The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently released the shortlist for the 2026 CAF Men’s Player of the Year prior to the prestigious awards to be held in Lagos, Nigeria on Monday December 07, 2026.
This shortlist includes the reigning holder Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and Paris Saint Germain (PSG).
Roving right back Hakimi will battle ten others including former player of the Year Sadio Mane of Senegal who plays for Al Nasser in Saudi Arabia.
Others on the short list are Manchester United and Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo, Manchester City and Ghana’s Antonine Semenyo, Brahim Diaz of Morocco and Real Madrid, compatriot Ismael Saibari of Bayern Munich, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr and Pape Gueye and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Yoane Wissa who represents Newcastle in the English Premier League.
South African midfield gem, Teboho Mokoena is the only player based in Africa on the shortlist.
A winner of the UEFA Champions League in 2025 and 2026, Hakimi also won the Ligue 1 and UEFA Super Cup with Paris Saint Germain (PSG). He is highly tipped to retain the crown given a number of prevailing factors at play.
He is the highest-ranked African player in the 2026 Ballon d’Or standings (13th), following a historic 6th-place finish in 2025.
He is the only African player to have established himself among the world’s elite for two consecutive years.
The reigning 2025 CAF African Player of the Year, he has once again delivered in 2026: consistency is the hallmark of legends.
He is a back-to-back UEFA Champions League winner with PSG (2025 and 2026); a historic achievement for a club that had never won the competition before. Hakimi played a pivotal role in both triumphs.
A remarkable 2025–2026 season: he won the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1 and the UEFA Super Cup with PSG. He also added the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco and a FIFA World Cup quarter-final appearance.
Striker-like numbers for a full-back: 49 appearances, 4 goals and 17 assists during the season. He is the best right-back in the world.
A legendary club trophy collection: three UEFA Champions League titles (2018, 2025 and 2026), matching Samuel Eto’o’s record as the African player with the most Champions League titles. He has also won seven domestic league titles across Spain, Italy and France.
A historic record with Morocco: he reached the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, a first for an African nation, and the quarter-finals in 2026. He also lifted the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations trophy as captain (awaiting CAS final decision after Senegal appeal).
More than 100 international caps and three FIFA World Cup appearances, making him Morocco’s record appearance holder at the tournament.
He continues to make African football history: he has registered 19 assists in the UEFA Champions League, just one short of Samuel Eto’o’s record.
The captain of the Atlas Lions proudly represents Morocco and the entire African continent on the world’s biggest sporting stages.
Recognised by those who face him on the pitch. Hakimi is among the 26 finalists for the 2026 FIFPRO World 11, following a vote involving 19,806 professional footballers from 73 countries. A recognition directly from his peers.
The only representative of an African national team among the 26 finalists. In this global selection, Hakimi stands alone in representing African football. Another compelling argument in support of his candidacy for the continental award.
Sustained global recognition. Having already been named in the 2025 FIFPRO World 11 and the 2025 FIFA The Best World 11, he has once again been shortlisted for the 2026 FIFPRO World 11.
His position among the world’s leading players in his position is a lasting one.
