CAF Reveals 2026 Africa-Based Player of the Year Shortlist
Seven Arab footballers feature among the 10 nominees for the 2026 CAF Africa-based Player of the Year award, making Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Sudan the dominant forces in this year’s shortlist. The selection highlights the growing influence of Arab clubs and players across African football, while also setting up an intriguing contest for one of the continent’s most closely watched individual honours.
Egypt and Morocco each have three representatives, while Algeria contributes two nominees and Sudan one. South Africa’s Jolyse Moudao, of Mamelodi Sundowns, is the only player outside the Arab contingent. With a compact field and several candidates who have impressed at club level, the race offers plenty of talking points ahead of the eventual winner announcement.
Egypt and Morocco Lead the Arab Representation
Egypt’s nominees are Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Shehata and Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, who is now playing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Riyadh after previously representing Al Ahly. Their inclusion reflects different routes to recognition: Shehata represents one of Egypt’s leading domestic clubs, while Trezeguet brings experience from both Egyptian football and a career that has taken him beyond the country.
For Zamalek, Shehata’s place on the list offers a welcome spotlight on a midfielder who has been part of the club’s efforts to compete in a demanding domestic environment. Midfielders can be difficult to assess through goals alone; their influence is also measured by their work in possession, their ability to connect defence and attack, and their contribution to a team’s overall balance.
Trezeguet’s nomination, meanwhile, underlines the continued visibility of Egyptian players competing abroad. His move to Al-Riyadh has placed him in a different football setting, but his established profile and experience remain important parts of his story. Whether either Egyptian contender can turn a shortlist place into the award itself will depend on how voters weigh individual performance against team contribution and the achievements of their rivals.
Morocco has the largest national presence, with three players included: Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, Mounir Chouiar and Soufiane El Moudane. Hrimat, formerly of Forces Armées Royales, now plays for Qatar’s Al-Shamal. Chouiar represents Renaissance Berkane, while El Moudane is part of Olympic Safi.
The trio’s inclusion shows the breadth of Morocco’s football network, spanning domestic competition and clubs outside the country. Berkane and Safi are familiar names in Moroccan football, while Hrimat’s move to Qatar adds an international dimension to the group. The nominations also demonstrate how CAF’s Africa-based award can recognise players whose careers include transfers across borders, provided their performances and eligibility fit the award’s criteria.
Algeria and Sudan Add Strength to the Field
Algeria’s two nominees are Abdennour Belhocini of CR Belouizdad and Ahmed Kendouci of USM Alger. Their selections give the country a strong presence in a shortlist otherwise led by Egypt and Morocco, and place two players from prominent Algerian clubs in contention.
For both candidates, the challenge is to stand out in a field where club identity, consistency and influence are likely to shape the discussion. A successful campaign can involve more than headline-making goals: dependable performances, leadership and the ability to affect important matches may all contribute to a player’s case. The final outcome will reveal how voters balance those qualities across the nominees.
Sudan is represented by Abdelraouf Yagoub, who plays for Al-Hilal. His inclusion ensures the shortlist extends beyond the North African football powers and recognises a player from one of Sudan’s most prominent clubs. Al-Hilal’s presence also adds another national perspective to an award that brings together talent from across the continent.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ Moudao Is the Sole Non-Arab Nominee
Jolyse Moudao, the Mamelodi Sundowns player from South Africa, is the only nominee outside the Arab contingent. That distinction makes his place on the list particularly notable, but it should not be mistaken for a simple head-to-head contest between regions. The award is ultimately about individual merit, and Moudao will be judged alongside nine candidates whose football backgrounds and club environments differ considerably.
Sundowns have built a reputation as one of Africa’s leading clubs, and their representation gives South African football a presence in the award conversation. Moudao’s nomination may also help broaden attention beyond the countries with the largest number of shortlisted players, reinforcing the continental scope of CAF’s recognition.
Who Is the Prediction to Win the Award?
At this stage, any football prediction should be treated with caution. The shortlist alone does not reveal the full voting picture, and the number of nominees from a particular country does not guarantee that one of them will claim the prize. A reliable forecast would need to account for each player’s performances during the relevant period, the strength of their club campaign, their consistency and the criteria used by CAF’s voting process.
Still, the concentration of nominees from Egypt and Morocco makes those countries natural focal points in the early debate. Their three-player representation gives each a broad range of contenders, while Algeria’s two nominees could also challenge if their individual contributions prove especially persuasive. Yagoub and Moudao, meanwhile, have the opportunity to upset expectations and bring attention to clubs and football communities represented by fewer players.
The list also raises a wider question about the changing geography of African football. Players increasingly move between domestic leagues and clubs in other regions, creating careers that are not confined by national borders. That movement can expand a player’s exposure, but it also makes comparisons more complex: nominees may have faced different opponents, played under different tactical systems and contributed to teams with very different ambitions.
A Competitive Race Across African Football
With 10 names in contention, the 2026 Africa-based Player of the Year shortlist brings together established profiles and players whose nominations may introduce them to a wider audience. The Arab contingent’s seven nominees underline its strength, while Moudao’s inclusion ensures the contest remains broader than a regional sweep.
For supporters, the coming discussion will centre on which candidate has made the greatest impact—not simply who has the highest profile or the most recognisable club. As the award process moves forward, performances, consistency and influence will shape the debate. Until CAF announces the winner, the shortlist provides the starting point for a compelling season of predictions, comparisons and conversation about the best football talent playing across Africa.
