With the Confederation of African Football (CAF) set to hold its awards gala on December 16, 2024, the spotlight is on the Player of the Year category, following the recent announcement of this year’s nominees.
Notable players have been excluded from the shortlist, despite their impressive performances for their respective clubs.
Among the nominees are Ronwen Williams (South Africa), William Troost Ekong (Nigeria), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea), Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast), Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), and Admine Gouiri (Algeria).
Victor Osimhen, who won the award in 2023 after leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, failed to make the shortlist this time.
Despite contributing 17 goals and four assists across all competitions, his struggles this season and Nigeria’s runners-up finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were not enough to secure him a spot.
Other Notable Exclusions:
Mohamed Salah: The Liverpool star had an impressive season with 25 goals and 14 assists, along with a Carabao Cup victory.
However, his participation in the 2023 AFCON was cut short due to injury.
Victor Boniface: The Nigerian forward played a crucial role in Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga title run, netting 21 goals and providing nine assists. Unfortunately, an injury before the AFCON sidelined him during the tournament.
Mohammed Kudus: After a successful debut season at West Ham, where he scored 17 goals and provided six assists, Kudus had a standout performance in the AFCON but could not prevent Ghana’s group stage exit.
Brahim Diaz: The Real Madrid forward contributed to the club’s Champions League success with 11 goals and eight assists but was surprisingly omitted from the nomination list.
The absence of these high-profile players has raised eyebrows among fans and critics alike, questioning the criteria used by CAF for its nominations. The awards ceremony is set to take place in Marrakesh, Morocco.
