Achraf Hakimi leads African Player of the Year race, says Faouzi Jamal

The 2026 CAF Awards are set for a closely contested series of individual and team prizes, with former Morocco international Faouzi Jamal ranking Achraf Hakimi as the leading contender for the Ballon d’Or africain ahead of Sadio Mane and Brahim Diaz.

The annual awards, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), recognise the continent’s leading players, coaches, clubs and national teams. This year’s nominations follow a season featuring the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to Africafoota, Jamal – who has coached several Botola Pro D1 clubs – assessed the main categories using individual performances, collective honours, influence in major matches and consistency.

Hakimi’s case is strengthened by his contribution to Paris Saint-Germain, where the right-back has developed into a major attacking outlet. His runs down the flank, ability to create openings and supply assists have made him an influential part of the team’s play.

His European and domestic trophies with Paris Saint-Germain also strengthen his claim. Hakimi is the only African among the 26 nominees for the FIFPRO World 11 2026.

Jamal also highlighted Morocco’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, following the Lions of the Atlas’ historic semi-final appearance at Qatar 2022. Hakimi was a key figure for his country while continuing to play a leading role at club level.

The former international therefore believes the combination of European success, national-team responsibility and team honours gives Hakimi the most complete case to retain the award.

Mane is regarded as his principal challenger, largely because of Senegal’s victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward contributed to the Lions of Teranga’s campaign and remains valued for his pace, dribbling, movement, finishing and leadership.

Jamal cautioned that Hakimi and Mane play different positions and carry different tactical responsibilities. An attacker’s scoring and assist figures cannot be directly compared with those of a full-back, who also has significant defensive duties. Mane, who is reported at 31 billion FCFA among the highest-paid players, could nevertheless benefit if voters place particular importance on international titles.

Brahim Diaz completes Jamal’s leading trio. The Real Madrid player offers close control, vision, dribbling ability and attacking versatility, while his experience at a club operating under constant pressure is another advantage. His role with Morocco and their World Cup quarter-final appearance also support his candidacy, although Jamal says talent and club status alone are not enough without decisive performances, statistics and trophies.

Bounou, Williams and Benbot contest goalkeeper award

Yassine Bounou, Ronwen Williams, Oussama Benbot, Edouard Mendy and Mostafa Shobeir are among the contenders for best African goalkeeper.

Jamal says the award should consider more than clean sheets and saves, including consistency, decisive interventions, handling pressure and the ability to organise a defence. Bounou’s international experience and his penalty shoot-out interventions against Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final strengthen his case. Williams is supported by his role in Mamelodi Sundowns’ success, while Benbot’s performances for USM Alger also put him in contention.

The coaching award includes Walid Regragui, Mohamed Ouahbi, Pape Thiaw and Hossam Hassan. Jamal believes results, tactical work, collective progress and management of major occasions should all be assessed. Senegal’s continental triumph gives Thiaw a strong argument, while Regragui and Ouahbi can point to Morocco’s international results. Project coherence and player development should also be considered.

Among the young-player nominees are Ibrahim Maza, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Ibrahim Mbaye. Jamal identified technical quality, maturity, physical ability, playing time, consistency and genuine influence on results as key criteria.

Mokoena and Sundowns have strong cases

Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau of Mamelodi Sundowns are among the nominees for best player based in Africa, alongside Morocco’s Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, Mounir Chouiar and Sofian El Moudane, Algeria’s Ahmed Khaldi and Abdennour Iheb Belhocini, and Egypt’s Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet and Mohamed Shehata.

Mokoena is considered a leading candidate after helping Sundowns win the African Champions League against AS FAR. His ball recovery, distribution and attacking contribution have made him central to the South African club’s balance.

Sundowns are also strong contenders for best African club after that continental triumph. AS FAR’s run to the final is recognised, while Zamalek, Esperance de Tunis and USM Alger are also nominated, but Jamal believes the champions hold the clearest argument.

Morocco are in contention for best men’s national team after reaching the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, following their progress to the semi-finals in 2022. Senegal’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign also places them among the candidates, although CAF’s decision to withdraw the continental title from Senegal and award it to Morocco is being challenged before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Algeria, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, Tunisia, Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cape Verde are also nominated.

Jamal said Moroccan football is well represented across the awards, with Hakimi and Diaz among the leading player candidates, Bounou in the goalkeeper category, Regragui and Ouahbi among the coaches, and several players and clubs in the remaining sections. His final prediction remains Hakimi ahead of Mane, with Diaz capable of disrupting the established order.