CAF Awards 2026: Morocco lead a controversial shortlist for Africa’s best men’s team

CAF has nominated all 10 African nations that represented the continent at the 2026 World Cup for its men’s national team of the year award, overlooking several notable performances elsewhere in Africa.

The shortlist consists of Algeria, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia the full group of African World Cup representatives.

World Cup qualification is an achievement in itself, but Tunisia’s inclusion is difficult to justify on the basis of their tournament performance. The Carthage Eagles lost all three of their matches, scoring twice and conceding 12 goals.

They were beaten 5-1 by Sweden, 4-0 by Japan and 3-1 by the Netherlands. Their elimination had already been confirmed before the final group game, leaving them with one of the poorest records of the recent tournament. Tunisia had also been named the worst team at the 2026 World Cup.

Their subsequent results did not provide evidence of a significant recovery. As a result, their place among Africa’s 10 candidates appears to reflect their qualification for the World Cup more than the quality of their overall year.

Nigeria, by contrast, could reasonably have been considered for the award despite missing out on the World Cup. They reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost to Morocco on penalties, before beating Egypt to claim the bronze medal.

That consistent performance in the continent’s main competition appears to have counted for less than participation in the global tournament.

Morocco look the clear favourites for the award. The Atlas Lions reached the World Cup quarter-finals after holding Brazil and eliminating the Netherlands. They are sixth in the FIFA rankings and remain the highest-ranked African side.

Senegal also have a strong case, based on their Africa Cup of Nations campaign and a respectable World Cup showing. Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire and DR Congo can point to their own progress, although none appears to have produced a season as significant as Morocco’s.

The varying fortunes of the 10 African World Cup entrants were evident throughout the tournament, yet every one of them has been included in the CAF selection.

The list also underlines the influence of North African football. Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia account for four of the 10 nominees.

Cameroon are absent, despite their historic standing in African football. Their failure to qualify for the World Cup, combined with an unconvincing year, has contributed to their decline in the continental hierarchy.

By selecting every World Cup participant, CAF has rewarded qualification. However, an award intended to recognise the best national team across an entire year might have given greater weight to the Africa Cup of Nations and performances after the World Cup.