Achraf Hakimi, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, headlines a strong contingent of three Moroccan players on the 10-man shortlist for the prestigious award, while Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has been notably excluded.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the shortlist last week, featuring Hakimi alongside teammates Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari. The trio were instrumental in Morocco's controversial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title win in January, where they were awarded the championship after Senegal walked off the pitch during the final over a disputed penalty. A decision on Senegal's appeal is expected by the end of November.

These three players also played key roles in Morocco's journey to the World Cup quarterfinals. Saibari emerged as the team's top scorer with three goals, and Hakimi added one. On the club front, Saibari's impressive performance led to a significant 50-million-euro ($56 million) transfer to Bayern Munich, while Diaz has continued to impress for Real Madrid. Hakimi, playing for Paris Saint-Germain, contributed to their second consecutive Champions League title.

Hakimi made history in 2025 by becoming the first Moroccan since 1998 and the first defender since 1973 to claim Africa's top individual honor, surpassing Salah and Victor Osimhen. The inclusion of the Moroccan trio and the absence of Salah, a two-time winner (2017, 2018), has sparked discussion given Salah's widely acknowledged status as a generational talent.

The other nominees for African Footballer of the Year include Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Yoane Wissa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye, and Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Teboho Mokoena (South Africa). The announcement of the winner is scheduled for December 2.

In the coach category, notable nominees include Egypt's Hossam Hassan and DR Congo's Sebastien Desabre, both recognized for leading their teams to the World Cup round of 16. Moroccan coaches Mohamed Ouahbi and Walid Regragui also received nominations for their contributions to the national team's success. Cabo Verde's coach Pedro Leitao Brito is shortlisted for guiding the island nation to its World Cup debut.

Goalkeeper Vonzinha, who gained international recognition for his World Cup performances, is among the nominees for Goalkeeper of the Year, alongside an Egyptian pair, El-Mahdi. The CAF Awards 2026 ceremony is set to celebrate the continent's top footballing talent across various categories.

Salah, who previously won the award in 2017 and 2018, with Sadio Mane winning the subsequent two editions, is now with Turkish side Trabzonspor. His exclusion from this year's shortlist has been a point of discussion among football observers.