The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its shortlist for the 2026 Men's Player of the Year award, sparking widespread criticism from Nigerian football fans. Victor Osimhen, the 2023 African Player of the Year, was surprisingly left off the list despite an impressive season with Turkish giants Galatasaray. Osimhen helped Galatasaray secure a second consecutive league title and scored 16 league goals in 2026.
Osimhen's exclusion has been met with outrage from Nigerian fans, who believe he had done more than enough to earn a place among Africa's elite performers. In the 2023-2024 season, Osimhen contributed 30 goals in 33 games for Galatasaray. Fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment, questioning the criteria used by CAF to select the nominees. Many have pointed out that some of the included players had less impressive seasons than Osimhen.
The nominees for the 2026 Men's Player of the Year award include Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Brahim Diaz (Morocco), Ismael Saibari (Morocco), Sadio Mane (Senegal), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Pape Gueye (Senegal), Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), and Teboho Mokoena (South Africa). The list is dominated by Moroccan and Senegalese stars, with defending winner Achraf Hakimi once again among the favorites.
Nigerian fans have also expressed disappointment at the absence of other Super Eagles stars, such as Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey, from the nominations. They argue that Nigeria's third-place finish at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) should have been better reflected in the nominations. Osimhen and Lookman were part of the CAF Best XI at AFCON.
The controversy has put CAF's selection process under the spotlight, with many Nigerian fans demanding greater transparency over how nominees are chosen. Fans have questioned how some players, such as Amad Diallo, were included ahead of Osimhen. The criticism has been severe, with some fans calling the snub "a joke."
The eventual winner of the 2026 Men's Player of the Year award will be decided in the coming months. However, one thing is already clear: Osimhen's absence is likely to remain one of the biggest talking points of this year's awards. For many supporters, the question is simple: what exactly does a player have to do to make the shortlist?
The snub has also been compounded by the omission of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie from the shortlist for the Women's Goalkeeper of the Year award. Nigerian fans are hoping that CAF will take their concerns into consideration and provide a more transparent selection process in the future.
Key points
- Victor Osimhen was surprisingly left off the CAF 2026 Player of the Year shortlist despite an impressive season with Galatasaray.
- Nigerian fans have expressed outrage at the snub, questioning the criteria used by CAF to select the nominees.
- The controversy has put CAF's selection process under the spotlight, with many demanding greater transparency over how nominees are chosen.
