CAF Awards 2026: Osimhen, Lookman Missing as No Nigerian Makes Men’s Player of the Year Shortlist

No Nigerian footballer has been nominated for the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Player of the Year award, with Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman missing from the 10-man shortlist.

CAF announced the nominees on Wednesday through its official X account, featuring players from nine African countries.

Senegal’s Sadio Mané, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo are among the notable names on the list, alongside seven other players.

Other nominees include DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa, Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo, Morocco’s Ismael Saibari and Brahim Diaz, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr and Pape Gueye, as well as South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena.

Nigeria’s absence marks a notable development for the country, which has previously produced winners and nominees in the prestigious individual category.

The development comes after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, losing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the African play-off final in November 2025.

The encounter ended 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties to advance to the intercontinental play-offs.

However, Nigeria finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which was held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

The omission of Nigerian players also follows the announcement of the women’s award categories, where no Super Falcons player was nominated for the Women’s Player of the Year award. Nigeria, however, received a nomination for Women’s National Team of the Year.

Meanwhile, CAF also unveiled nominees for other men’s categories, including Young Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and National Team of the Year.

The Men’s Young Player of the Year shortlist includes Ibrahim Maza, Christian Kofane, Christ Inao, Yan Diomande, Hamza Abdelkarim, Caleb Yirenkyi, Ismaël Kamissoko, Abdellah Ouazane, Ayoub Bouaddi and Ibrahim Mbaye.

For the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, nominees include Oussama Benbot, Vozinha, Yahia Fofana, Lionel Mpasi, El Mahdy Soliman, Mostafa Shobeir, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Yassine Bounou, Édouard Mendy and Ronwen Williams.

The Men’s National Team of the Year shortlist features Algeria, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.