Hakimi and Morocco’s three-way challenge for the 2026 Caf Player of the Year award

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced the nominees for its 2026 Player of the Year award, with Morocco represented by Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz and Ismail Saibari.

The Moroccan trio face competition from Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye and Sadio Mane, while the remaining nominees are Amad Diallo of Manchester United, Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United, Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City and South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns.

Morocco’s case is strengthened by their victory in the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, as well as their run to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated by France.

Brahim Diaz was a key figure for Morocco, although he did not make a major impact at club level with Real Madrid, who ended the campaign without a trophy.

Hakimi, however, enjoyed a highly successful season with Paris Saint-Germain. He won the Champions League for a second successive season, along with the French league title, the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

He was also included among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or, which was won by Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane a few days ago.

Saibari produced an impressive campaign with Eindhoven before moving to Bayern Munich, and played particularly well for Morocco at the World Cup, scoring three goals.

Senegal’s leading contenders

Sadio Mane is the most prominent of Senegal’s three nominees and was also named on the shortlist for the latest Ballon d’Or.

He was among Senegal’s best performers at the Africa Cup of Nations, but managed only one assist at the World Cup before his side were eliminated by Belgium in the round of 32. At club level, Mane won the Saudi league title with Al-Nassr.

Ismaila Sarr helped Crystal Palace win the 2025-26 Conference League, the first European trophy in the club’s history, and was named the competition’s best player. He also impressed during the domestic season.

Pape Gueye contributed to Villarreal finishing third in La Liga last season, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 30 league appearances.

Morocco’s three nominees raise concerns that votes could be split in the same way they were in the Ballon d’Or race between Lamine Yamal and Barcelona team-mate Rodri, who both won the World Cup with Spain, allowing Kane to prevail over the pair.

France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia also said divided support affected Ousmane Dembele, with Paris Saint-Germain’s campaign, in his view, failing to focus sufficiently on promoting the forward.

Hakimi’s club achievements and Diaz’s performances for Morocco make them the leading Moroccan candidates, while Saibari appears to have the least chance of the three. However, Senegal’s votes are also expected to be divided between three players, potentially improving Morocco’s prospects.

Voting is conducted by the national team coaches and captains of all 54 Caf member associations, members of Caf’s technical study group and one media representative from each association. Each voter ranks five players, awarding five points to their first choice, then four, three, two and one.

The 2026 Caf Awards ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, 7 December.