The Confederation of African Football has announced 10 nominees for the Men’s Young Player of the Year award at the 2026 CAF Awards.
The shortlist features some of Africa’s most exciting young football talents, who have impressed with their performances for their clubs and national teams.
Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza and Cameroon’s Christian Kofane are among the players competing for the award.
Côte d’Ivoire has two representatives, Christ Inao Oulaï and Yan Diomandé, while Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim and Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi also made the list.
Mali’s Ismaël Kamissoko joins Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane and Ayoub Bouaddi on the shortlist. Senegalese youngster Ibrahim Mbaye completes the 10 nominees.
Here is the full list of the CAF Men’s Young Player of the Year nominees for 2026:
Ibrahim Maza – Algeria
Christian Kofane – Cameroon
Christ Inao Oulaï – Côte d’Ivoire
Yan Diomandé – Côte d’Ivoire
Hamza Abdelkarim – Egypt
Caleb Yirenkyi – Ghana
Ismaël Kamissoko – Mali
Abdellah Ouazane – Morocco
Ayoub Bouaddi – Morocco
Ibrahim Mbaye – Senegal
The winner will be announced at the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony, where Africa’s outstanding football talents will be celebrated.
