Cameroon’s three 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winners nominated for CAF award

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina and Monique Ngock among the 10 nominees for the 2026 African Women’s Player of the Year award.

The trio played a major role as Cameroon won the first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in the country’s history, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat on 16 August.

Ngah Manga scored twice in the final and finished as one of the tournament’s leading scorers with five goals, alongside Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga and Zambia’s Barbra Banda.

Goalkeeper Bihina was also nominated for the African Goalkeeper of the Year award after making nine saves against Nigeria in the quarter-final. She then saved a penalty and three attempts in the shootout against Morocco in the semi-final. Bihina was subsequently awarded the tournament’s Golden Glove.

Midfielder Ngock was named the best player of the competition.

Algeria’s Marine Dafeur and Morocco’s Hanane Ait El Haj are the other two players from the tournament’s top performers to make the shortlist. Both were included in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 team of the tournament.

Dafeur scored twice, including a direct free-kick against Kenya, and provided two assists as Algeria secured third place and qualified for the 2027 World Cup.

Ait El Haj, the Atlas Lionesses’ captain and right-back, was the competition’s leading assist provider with five. She was also named player of the match as Morocco began their campaign with a 4-0 victory over Kenya.

Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak, the reigning holder of the award, was left out of the 10-player shortlist after a less influential tournament. Her omission is likely to increase questions over whether she will be included in the FIFPRO World 11 nominees. Barcelona prospect Kautar Azraf, who impressed during the tournament, is instead in contention for the African Young Player of the Year award.

Malawi’s sisters Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga are also among the leading names on the shortlist. Tabitha scored four goals, while Temwa registered five goals and two assists as Malawi reached the final in their first appearance at the competition.

Temwa Chawinga, who finished 10th in the France Football Women’s Ballon d’Or, also won the NWSL MVP award and the NWSL Golden Boot with Kansas City Current at club level.

Banda, the 2024 African Women’s Player of the Year, scored five goals in Morocco, including four in Zambia’s 6-0 win over Egypt. South Africa’s 2018 winner Thembi Kgatlana and Ghana’s Portia Boakye complete the shortlist.

The winner will be announced at the CAF Awards ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, on 7 December. CAF will announce the three finalists before the event.