The race for African football’s biggest individual and team honours is beginning to take shape, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) starting to unveil the nominees for the 2026 CAF Awards.
The first announcements have brought several familiar names into the spotlight, alongside emerging talents hoping to make their mark on the continental stage. Nigeria is also among the countries represented in the nominations released so far.
However, there is still more to come before the full picture of this year’s awards becomes clear.
The 2026 ceremony is scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, December 7, bringing together some of the continent’s outstanding players, coaches, teams and other football personalities.
CAF Awards 2026: Categories announced so far
CAF released the nominees in four women’s categories on Tuesday, November 3. Each category features 10 candidates.
The confirmed categories are:
- Women’s Player of the Year
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Women’s Young Player of the Year
- Women’s National Team of the Year
The remaining nomination lists are still awaited. This article will be updated as CAF makes further official announcements.
Women’s Player of the Year nominees
The women’s individual award features a strong field, with Cameroon and Malawi each providing multiple nominees.
Nigeria, which has enjoyed considerable success in this category over the years, has no representative on this year’s shortlist.
Nominees:
- Marine Dafeur – Algeria
- Marie Ngah Manga – Cameroon
- Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
- Monique Ngock – Cameroon
- Portia Boakye – Ghana
- Tabitha Chawinga – Malawi
- Temwa Chawinga – Malawi
- Hanane Aït El Haj – Morocco
- Thembi Kgatlana – South Africa
- Barbra Banda – Zambia
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year nominees
The goalkeeper category includes Nigeria’s Christiana Uzoma, giving the country representation in the race despite the absence of three-time winner Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Uzoma, who plays for Edo Queens, is joined by nine other goalkeepers from across the continent.
Nominees:
- Chloé N’Gazi – Algeria
- Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
- Cynthia Konlan – Ghana
- Mercy Sikelo – Malawi
- Fatoumata Karantao – Mali
- Khadija Er-Rmichi – Morocco
- Christiana Uzoma – Nigeria
- Adji Ndiaye – Senegal
- Kaylin Swart – South Africa
- Hazel Nali – Zambia
Women’s Young Player of the Year nominees
Nigeria has two representatives in the young player category, with Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi earning places on the 10-player shortlist.
Akekoromowei recently joined Portuguese club Benfica after representing the Falconets at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, while Adegbuyi has enjoyed an impressive year across domestic and youth competitions.
Nominees:
- Romaine Gandonou – Benin
- Maëva Nyadjou – Cameroon
- Grace-Ruth Sery – Côte d’Ivoire
- N’Sira Ouédraogo – Côte d’Ivoire
- Rose Kadzere – Malawi
- Kautar Azraf – Morocco
- Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei – Nigeria
- Oluwakemi Adegbuyi – Nigeria
- Adji Ndiaye – Senegal
- Winfrida Gerald – Tanzania
Women’s National Team of the Year nominees
The Super Falcons have also been shortlisted for the Women’s National Team of the Year award.
Nigeria will compete against nine other countries for the recognition.
Nominees:
- Algeria
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ghana
- Malawi
- Mali
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- South Africa
Which CAF Awards 2026 categories are still awaiting nominations?
While the four women’s shortlists have now been published, CAF is yet to release the remaining nomination lists for the 2026 edition.
The men’s categories and other outstanding award nominations will be added to this report once the governing body makes the announcements.
Readers can return to this page for the updated lists as the nominations emerge.
When are the 2026 CAF Awards?
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, December 7.
The event will celebrate outstanding achievements in African football, with the final nominees and eventual winners representing the continent’s best performers across the relevant award categories.
