The 2024 CAF Awards final nominees have been named by the football governing body ahead of the ceremony, which is slated for December 16, 2024, in Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
The award is handed out to recognize the remarkable performances put up by players from the African during the year under review.
The headline award of the night will be the unveiling of the Men’s Player of the Year, with five nominees still in the running.
Ivory Coast’s talented winger Simon Adingra (Brighton) is among the contenders, along with Guinea international striker Serhou Guirassy ( Borussia Dortmund), Morocco’s right-back Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), South Africa’s Ronwen Williams the only goalkeeper on the list for the top prize (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Nigeria’s explosive winger Ademola Lookman (Atlanta) are all vying to succeed Victor Osimhen of Nigeria as the next candidate to claim the prestigious award.
In the CAF Women’s player of the year category, three players has been shortlisted and they would be eyeing to become the 11th different winner of the prestigious award.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride), Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR) from Morocco and Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC) from Nigeria are the top three contenders to become the next Queen of Africa football.
Meanwhile Emerse Fae (Côte d’Ivoire) Sebastien Desabre (DR Congo) and Hugo Broos (South Africa) have been shortlisted as the three finalists for the coach of the year award.
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe), Ahmed Ramadan (FC Masar), Mohamed Amine Alioua (ASFAR) and Thinasonke Mbuli (UWC) are the four top contenders vying for the women’s coach of the year award.
Lacho Flora Marta (TP Mazembe/Angola), Doha El Madani (ASFAR/Morocco) and Sanan Mssoudy (ASFAR/Morocco) would vie for CAF inter-club player of the year award in the women’s category.
While Ahmed Zizo (Zamalek/ Egypt), Hussein El Shahat (Al Ahly/Egypt ) and Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa) has also been shortlisted as the three finalists for the CAF inter-club player of the year in the men’s category.
Andre Onana (Cameroon / Manchester United), Yahia Fofana (Ivory Coast / SCO Angers) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/ Mamelodi Sundowns) has been shortlisted as the final three to compete for the CAF men’s goalkeeper of the year award.
Khadija Er-Rmichi (ASFAR/Morocco), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC/ Nigeria) and Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies/ South Africa) would be the three front runners to vie for the CAF women’s goalkeeper of the year award.
Reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, 2024 AFCON finalists Nigeria and South Africa will battle for CAF men’s national team of the year award.
Meanwhile Nigeria’s Super Falcons will face a fierce competition from South Africa women’s national team and Morocco women’s national in the CAF women’s national team of the year in their quest of the defending their title.
On the other hand, Lamine Camara (AS Monaco/ Senegal) would be hoping to defend his honor but faces a tough challenge from Karim Konate (RB Salzburg/ Ivory Coast) and Oumar Diakite (Stade Reims/Ivory Coast) in the CAF men’s young player of the year award.
Three top young talent Habiba Sabry (Masar/ Egypt), Doha Madani (ASFAR/ Morocco) and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels/Nigeria) would be aiming to dethrone Nesryne El Chad and become the next CAF women’s young player of the year.
Three clubs Ahly (Egypt), Zamalek (Egypt) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) have also been shortlisted for the CAF men’s club of the year award.
TP Mazembe (DR Congo) ,ASFAR (Morocco) and Edo Queens (Nigeria) conclude the list as the top three teams vying for prestigious CAF women’s club of the year award .