Morocco Ready to Shine at the 2026 CAF Awards in Lagos
Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially rescheduled the highly anticipated 2026 CAF Awards ceremony to December 2, 2026, taking place in the vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria. This prestigious event will gather the leading figures in African football to compete for recognition across an impressive array of 18 award categories. Initially slated for December 7, the ceremony will now unfold at the renowned Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, commencing at 7 p.m. local time (6 p.m. GMT). The awards will celebrate exceptional accomplishments in both men’s and women’s football, highlighting players, coaches, emerging talents, clubs, national teams, and match officials, thus showcasing the brilliance of African football on an international stage.
Morocco's Nominees and Categories
Morocco is poised to make a significant impact at this year’s awards, with several nominees across multiple categories. Leading the charge is Achraf Hakimi, the defending African Player of the Year, who aims to retain his title amidst tough competition from nine other notable players, including Senegal’s Sadio Mané and Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo. Alongside Hakimi, Morocco boasts additional contenders in this category, such as Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid and Ismael Saibari from Bayern Munich, both of whom are eager to showcase their talents and potentially secure their first accolades. Furthermore, the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year category features Moroccan talents Yassine Bounou and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, who will have to outperform renowned goalkeepers like Senegal’s Edouard Mendy to claim victory. The Interclub Player of the Year category also highlights Morocco's strengths, with nominees like Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, Mounir Chouiar, and Sofiane El Moudane representing the nation after impressive performances in continental competitions. The Young Player of the Year category features Abdellah Ouazane and Ayoub Bouaddi, two rising stars striving to make their mark on the football scene. In coaching, two Moroccan figures, Mohamed Ouahbi and Walid Regragui, are nominated, adding depth to the country’s representation. Notably, Morocco's national team is also in the running for Men’s National Team of the Year, while local clubs AS FAR, RS Berkane, and Olympic Safi vie for the title of Men’s Club of the Year, showcasing the nation's robust football heritage.
In women's football, the presence of Moroccan representatives continues to grow, signifying the advancement of the sport in the country. Hanane Ait El Haj, a standout player for Deportivo Alavés, is among the nominees for Women’s Player of the Year. Khadija Er-Rmichi, the goalkeeper for AS FAR, is also competing for Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, while Kautar Azraf from Barcelona is nominated for Women’s Young Player of the Year. Additionally, Morocco’s women’s national team has earned a nomination for Women’s National Team of the Year, further emphasizing the burgeoning talent within Moroccan women’s football. However, nominations for three women's categories—Women’s Interclub Player of the Year, Women’s Coach of the Year, and Women’s Club of the Year—remain pending, as CAF is expected to confirm these following the conclusion of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, potentially opening further opportunities for Moroccan representation.
The awards ceremony will also honor match officials, with four distinctions allocated to referees. Although the shortlists for these officiating awards are yet to be announced, Morocco's potential representation among the match officials remains uncertain, pending further details from CAF. The entire event will culminate in a ceremony that promises to be a celebration of football excellence across the continent.
As the voting process unfolds from November 5 to 20, eligibility is granted to CAF member associations, clubs, coaches, and national team captains, ensuring a diverse and inclusive voting pool. CAF has committed to independent monitoring to uphold the integrity and transparency of the voting process, ensuring a fair evaluation of performances. With Moroccan athletes and clubs prominently featured across both men’s and women’s categories, the upcoming ceremony presents a pivotal opportunity for Morocco to enhance its reputation and standing within the realm of African football.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
