Three African talents named among 10 nominees for Trophee Kopa 2026

France Football has announced the 10-player shortlist for the Trophee Kopa 2026, with three African footballers included among the nominees: Cote d’Ivoire’s Yan Diomande, Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza.

The shortlist, revealed on 8 September 2026, brings together some of the most highly regarded young prospects in world football. Diomande, Bouaddi and Maza will compete for the prestigious individual award alongside seven other nominees from Europe.

The remaining candidates are Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic, Spain’s Pau Cubarsi, Germany’s Lennart Karl, France’s Eli Junior Kroupi, Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi and France’s Warren Zaire-Emery.

The inclusion of three African players underlines the strength and growing prominence of the continent’s emerging football talent. Diomande, Bouaddi and Maza now have the opportunity to measure themselves against a group regarded as the leading prospects of their generation.

Their presence also gives the 2026 award a clear African dimension, with Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and Algeria each represented on the final list of 10. Each of the three nominees will now be in contention for one of the most prominent individual honours available to young players.

The announcement leaves the identity of the next winner undecided. One of the 10 shortlisted players will succeed the previous holder of the Trophee Kopa, although the eventual recipient has not yet been determined.

The full list of nominees is:

– Yan Diomande – Cote d’Ivoire – Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco – Ibrahim Maza – Algeria – Kerim Alajbegovic – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Pau Cubarsi – Spain – Lennart Karl – Germany – Eli Junior Kroupi – France – Lamine Yamal – Spain – Johan Manzambi – Switzerland – Warren Zaire-Emery – France

With 10 young players still in contention, attention will now turn to the decision over who should receive the Trophee Kopa 2026. The shortlist contains three African nominees and seven European nominees, reflecting the broad international reach of the award and the range of emerging talent represented.

For Diomande, Bouaddi and Maza, the nomination provides recognition on a major global stage. They will now be assessed alongside the other shortlisted players as the race to become the 2026 laureate begins.

The key figures from the announcement are 10 nominees, three African players and one Trophee Kopa to be awarded in 2026.