CAF AWARDS
Rich history of the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award
The 2024 CAF Awards will see a new Men’s Player of the Year crowned when they are staged in Marrakech, Morrocco on Monday, 16 December, the latest recipient of a prize that has celebrated the continent’s elite players in various guises since 1970.
This year’s gala ceremony will be at the Palais des Congrès with the ceremony set to kick off at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT/ 20h00 Cairo time/ 21h00 East African time).
One of the highlights of the night will be the unveiling of the Men’s Player of the Year, with five nominees still in the running.
Cote d’Ivoire and Brighton & Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra is among the contenders, along with Borussia Dortmund’s Guinea international striker Serhou Guirassy and Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
Atalanta’s exciting winger Ademola Lookman will be the pick of Nigeria fans, while Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams will hope his exploits for South Africa at TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 see him claim the prize.
The African Footballer of the Year was first established by France Football magazine 54 years ago, with the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) taking over the award in 1992.
Former Mali international Salif Keïta was the very first recipient in 1970, earned while he was playing for Saint-Étienne in France.
As a teenager he was in the Stade Malien side that lost in the first CAF Champions Cup final in 1965 and thereafter moved to Saint-Étienne, where he won three successive Ligue 1 titles from 1968-70 and became a fan favourite in a golden period for one of France’s most beloved clubs.
He scored 42 goals alone in the 1970-71 season when St Etienne finished second to Marseille, where he moved in 1972.
Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana & Asante Kotoko) claimed the award in 1971 and Chérif Souleymane (Guinea & Hafia) the following year.
The France Football Award continued until 1994, by which time CAF has created their own prize two years earlier.
Abedi Pele of Ghana claimed the Award three years in a row between 1991-1993, and future Liberia President George Weah was a winner in 1995 as he also became the first player from Africa to lift the Ballon d’Or.
The record for the most Men’s Player of the Year titles is shared between ex-Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010) and former Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Yaya Toure (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014). Toure is the only player to lift the award four years in a row.
Among current players, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah has two wins and Senegal forward Sadio Mane also a brace of victories.
PAST CAF AWARD WINNERS
Men’s Player of the Year
- 1992 Abedi Pele (Ghana)
- 1993 Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria)
- 1994 Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria)
- 1995 George Weah (Liberia)
- 1996 Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
- 1997 Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria)
- 1998 Mustapha Hadji (Morocco)
- 1999 Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
- 2000 Patrick Mboma (Cameroon)
- 2001 El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
- 2002 El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
- 2003 Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- 2004 Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- 2005 Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- 2006 Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire)
- 2007 Frédéric Kanouté (Mali)
- 2008 Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
- 2009 Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire)
- 2010 Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- 2011 Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
- 2012 Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
- 2013 Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
- 2014 Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
- 2015 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
- 2016 Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
- 2017 Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- 2018 Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- 2019 Sadio Mané (Senegal)
- 2020 Awards not held due to COVID-192021 Awards not held due to COVID-19
- 2022 Sadio Mané (Senegal)
- 2023 Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
- -CAF
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Several Moroccan stars are nominated for multiple categories in Africa’s equivalent of the Ballon d’Or, covering achievements from January to October 2024.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has commented on its choice of Marrakech as the host city for its prestigious 2024 CAF Awards ceremony, acknowledging the nation’s significant contribution to African football.
“With Morocco’s rich footballing history and vibrant culture, Marrakech is the perfect backdrop for this prestigious celebration that is a must-watch event for fans around the world,” CAF stated in its official announcement on December 10.
The event is scheduled for December 16, at the Palais des Congrès, beginning at 7 p.m. local time.
The ceremony will honor outstanding achievements across multiple categories in both men’s and women’s football, with several Moroccan talents among the nominees:
Men’s Categories:
– Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) – Player of the Year nominee
– Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane) – Goalkeeper of the Year nominee
– Bilal El Khannouss (Leicester City) – Young Player of the Year nominee
– Eliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco) – Young Player of the Year nominee
Women’s Categories:
– Sanaâ Mssoudy (AS FAR) – Player of the Year nominee
– Fatima El Jebraoui (Wydad Athletic Club) – Goalkeeper of the Year nominee
– Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR) – Goalkeeper of the Year nominee
– Doha El Madani (AS FAR) – Interclub Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year nominee
– Lina Mokhtar Jamai (Paris Saint-Germain) – Young Player of the Year nominee
Additionally, Moroccan clubs and coaches received nominations:
– RS Berkane – Club of the Year (Men)
– AS FAR – Club of the Year (Women)
– Mohamed Amine Alioua (AS FAR) – Coach of the Year (Women)
The event will showcase Africa’s top football talent, with winners selected by a panel including the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, and head coaches and captains from member associations. The awards cover achievements from January to October 2024.
The ceremony will feature entertainment and bring together football stakeholders from across the continent and beyond, including legendary players and current stars, in a city known for hosting major continental events.
-Morocco World News
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The countdown is on to the 2024 CAF Awards with six days to go until we honour the continent’s best players, coaches and teams in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, 16 December in a glittering celebration of African football.
The ceremony takes place at the Palais des Congrès and will kick off at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT/ 20h00 Cairo time/ 21h00 East African time).
Africa’s leading football experts have voted for their star names across a range of categories for Men and Women, including the coveted Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
From an original list of 30 top performers in the Men’s Player of the Year category, the number has been cut to five, with a final three to be revealed this week ahead of the Awards ceremony.
Some of the greatest names in African football history have walked away with the prize, including record four-time winners Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) and Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire), and George Weah (Liberia) and Abedi Pele (Ghana), who have three wins each.
In the Women’s category, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala leads the way with six wins, two more than compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha.
The best clubs and national teams will also be honoured, and fans have voted for their top pick from several exceptional goals with an award for the most spectacular strike in 2024.
You can still cast your vote HERE.
The ceremony will be attended by football stakeholders from across the continent and beyond, as well as legendary players and some of Africa’s finest current stars.
With Morocco’s rich footballing history and vibrant culture, Marrakech is the perfect backdrop for this prestigious celebration that is a must-watch event for fans around the world.
There will be plenty of entertainment on the night as the very best in African football gather to celebrate another fantastic footballing year for the continent.
-CAF
CAF AWARDS
Malawian sisters join Nnadozie and Zambia’s Banda for Women’s Player of the Year final contest
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has unveiled the top five nominees in each of the women’s categories at the upcoming 2024 CAF Awards. Excitement is mounting for the ceremony, which will be held on 16 December 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 2024 CAF Awards cover the period from January to October this year.
Five outstanding players have been shortlisted for the prestigious CAF Women’s Player of the Year, including the dynamic sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) and Barbra Banda (Zambia).
This year’s nominees reflect the excellence in women’s football across the continent after their impressive performances at club and national team level.
The CAF Goalkeeper of the Year category includes five exceptional shot-stoppers while the Interclub Player of the Year category highlights five standout performers who shone during continental competitions.
Emerging talents are celebrated in the CAF Young Player of the Year category featuring top nominees, while the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year category honours the technical brilliance of five coaches.
The awards also recognize the contributions of national teams and clubs.
The nominees for CAF Women’s National Team of the Year are Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and the Cameroon Under-20 side, while Club of the Year contenders include TP Mazembe (DR Congo), AS FAR (Morocco), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
The winners of each category will be determined through votes from the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of Member Associations, as well as clubs participating in the group stages of Interclub competitions.
The #CAFAwards24 continue to celebrate the outstanding achievements of African footballers, coaches and teams.
Last year, Asisat Oshoala earned the title of CAF Women’s Player of the Year, and this year’s nominees will look to follow in her illustrious footsteps.
Full List of Nominees (in alphabetical order by Member Association):
Player of the Year (Women)
1. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais)
2. Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current)
3. Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)
4. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)
5. Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)
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Rich history of the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award
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