The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the nominees for the 2026 CAF Awards on November 3, 2026, in four women's categories. The list of nominees for the African Player of the Year award features ten talented players from across the continent. The competition for this top honor is expected to be fierce, with three Cameroonian players, Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina, and Monique Ngock, among the contenders after their triumph at the 2026 Africa Women's Cup of Nations with the Indomitable Lionesses.
The ten players vying for the African Player of the Year award include Algerian Marine Dafeur, Ghanaian Portia Boakye, Malawians Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, Moroccan Hanan Ait El Haj, South African Thembi Kgatlana, and Zambian Barbra Banda. These players have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, making the competition highly anticipated. The CAF Awards ceremony, scheduled for December 7, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, will recognize the best players, teams, and coaches in African football.
In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Senegal's Adji Ndiaye is among the ten nominees, alongside Algerian Chloé N'Gazi, Cameroonian Michaely Bihina, Ghanaian Cynthia Konlan, Malawian Mercy Sikelo, Malian Fatoumata Karantao, Moroccan Khadija El-Rmichi, Nigerian Christiana Uzoma, South African Kaylin Swart, and Zambian Hazel Nali. The diversity of nominees from various countries highlights the growing talent pool in African women's football.
Adji Ndiaye also features in the Young Player of the Year category, competing against Beninese Romaine Gandonou, Cameroonian Maeva Nyadjou, Ivorian Grace-Ruth Sery and N'Sira Ouédraogo, Malawian Rose Kadzere, Moroccan Kautar Azraf, Nigerians Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, and Tanzanian Winfrida Gerald. This category recognizes the achievements of young and talented players who are shaping the future of African women's football.
In the National Women's Team of the Year category, ten teams are in contention for the top honor, including Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. Cameroon, the reigning African champions, and Malawi, the finalists of the last Africa Women's Cup of Nations, are among the favorites. Algeria, which finished third in the continental competition, is also a strong contender.
The CAF has announced that nominations for additional women's categories, including Player of the Year in Inter-Club Competitions, Coach of the Year, and Women's Club of the Year, will be revealed after the Women's Champions League, scheduled to take place in Egypt in 2026. This will provide more opportunities for African footballers to be recognized for their outstanding performances.
The CAF Awards ceremony on December 7, 2026, will bring together the best of African football, celebrating the achievements of exceptional players, teams, and coaches. The event will provide a platform for recognizing and rewarding excellence in African football, inspiring future generations of players and fans alike.
Key points
- Ten female players from across Africa have been nominated for the African Player of the Year award.
- The CAF Awards ceremony will take place on December 7, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria.
- Ten national teams are competing for the National Women's Team of the Year award, including Cameroon, Malawi, and Algeria.
