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Sadio Mane headlines CAF 2023 Player of the Year nominees, with new Goalkeeper category introduced for outstanding shot stoppers
The dazzling Senegal forward Sadio Mane who clinched the title of CAF African Player of the Year in 2022 once again headlines the list of top talents vying for the prestigious award in 2023.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently unveiled the contenders for the CAF Awards 2023, setting the stage for an exhilarating event slated for 11 December in Marrakech, Morocco.
An impressive roster of 30 players is up for the coveted CAF African Player of the Year award.
Mane's competition includes notable stars like Mohamed Salah and the rising talent, Manrez. Each nominee's performance from November 2022 to September 2023 has been taken into account, ensuring that only the continent's best are in contention.
CAF's initiative to recognize and celebrate the crème de la crème of African football has expanded this year. Alongside the familiar awards, CAF has introduced the African Goalkeeper of the Year category.
This new addition, available for both male and female players, marks the first time shot stoppers will get their well-deserved moment in the spotlight. With ten nominations already announced, the competition promises to be fierce.
But that is not all on the roster. Another 20 players are contending for the CAF Interclub Player of the Year, highlighting their critical roles in club performances.
The categories for Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year, and Club of the Year are also teeming with talent, featuring ten nominees each.
And for the young stars making waves in African football, the CAF Young Player of the Year is reserved for those under 21, shining a light on the future of the sport.
CAF's rigorous selection process ensures that only the finest talents are considered.
The panel behind the nominations comprises CAF Technical Experts, renowned African Football Legends, and selected media representatives from across the continent.
These industry experts have the challenging task of filtering through a year of exceptional football to identify the best of the best.
But who will decide the ultimate winners? A voting panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, and the Head Coaches & Captains of Member Associations, along with clubs in the group stages of the Interclub competitions, holds this honor.
While the nominees for the men’s categories have been announced, fans await the list of women's nominees, expected to be disclosed shortly. The previous awards gala, held in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco, saw Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala claim the CAF African Women’s Player of the Year title for an unparalleled fifth time.
As the countdown to the Awards Gala begins, football enthusiasts are abuzz with anticipation. Who will emerge as Africa's top football icons in 2023? Only time will tell.
Full List of Nominees
Player of the Year (Men)
Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria and Borussia Dortmund)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Al Ahli)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso and Bayer Leverkusen)
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon and SSC Napoli)
Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon and Besiktas)
Ibrahima Sangare (Cote d’Ivoire and Nottingham Forest)
Seko Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire and Al Nassr)
Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo and Olympique Marseille)
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Pyramids)
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham United)
Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and VfB Stuttgart)
Yves Bissouma (Mali and Tottenham Hotspur)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)
Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco and Olympique Marseille)
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Galatasaray)
Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco and Manchester United)
Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)
Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco and Sevilla)
Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and SSC Napoli)
Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr)
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur)
Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Ferencvaros)
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16:00 - 01.11.2023
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Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)
Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco & Al Hilal)
Andre Onana (Cameroon and Manchester United)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Edouard Mendy (Senegal and Al Ahli)
Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
Pape Mamadou Sy (Senegal and Generation Foot)
Landing Badji (Senegal and AS Pikine)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
Aymen Mahious (Algeria and USM Alger/Yverdon-Sport)
Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
Zineddine Belaid (Algeria and USM Alger)
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Young Africans/Pyramids)
Makabi Lilepo (DR Congo and Al Hilal/Valenciennes)
Hussein El Shahat (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mostafa Fathi (Egypt and Pyramids)
Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
Yahia Attiyat Allah (Morocco and Wydad Club Athletic)
Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
Ranga Chivaviro (South Africa and Marumo Gallants/Kaizer Chiefs)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Ali Maaloul (Tunisia and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Esperance Sportive de Tunis /Ferencvaros)
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15:30 - 01.11.2023
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Young Player of the Year (Men)
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso and Bournemouth)
Souleymane Alio (Burkina Faso and New Stars)
Ernest Nuamah (Ghana & Olympique Lyonnais)
Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco and Betis)
Bilal El Khannous (Morocco and Genk)
Gift Orban (Nigeria and KAA Gent)
Lamine Camara (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)
Pape Amadou Diallo (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)
Pape Demba Diop (Senegal and Zulte Waregem)
Amara Diouf (Senegal and Generation Foot)
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10:47 - 12.10.2023
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Coach of the Year (Men)
Abdelhak Benchikha (USM Alger)
Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
Juan Micha Obiang (Equatorial Guinea)
Tom Saintfiet (The Gambia)
Baciro Cande (Guinea Bissau)
Amir Abdou (Mauritania)
Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Chiquinho Conde (Mozambique)
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Pape Thiaw (Senegal – CHAN)
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21:00 - 31.10.2023
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Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday, putting him three ahead of his nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo but with the two GOATs exiting the stage, who are next in line to the throne?
National Team of the Year (Men)
Cape Verde
The Gambia
Guinea Bissau
Equatorial Guinea
Mauritania
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Senegal
Tanzania
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13:08 - 31.10.2023
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Club of the Year (Men)
CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
USM Alger (Algeria)
ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Raja Club Athletic (Morocco)
Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
Young Africans (Tanzania)
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