Moroccans Achraf Hakimi and Ibrahim Diaz, along with Egyptian Emam Ashour, have emerged as leading contenders for the 2026 African Player of the Year award.
According to a report published by the Moroccan website Sport7, the list includes five names that the site believes delivered outstanding performances throughout the year, particularly in the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup, as well as in European club competitions. However, these names do not represent official or final nominations from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Achraf Hakimi is among the top candidates, following a remarkable season with Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team.
According to the report, the Moroccan full-back contributed to his team winning the Champions League and French League titles, and was also among the prominent players in his country's journey in the 2026 World Cup, which ended with reaching the quarter-finals.
The captain of the "Atlas Lions" hopes to retain the award, after being crowned African Player of the Year 2025.
The list also included Brahim Diaz, who shone with the Moroccan national team during the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup.
The report noted Diaz's crowning as top scorer of the Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to his emergence as one of the best African goal creators in the 2026 World Cup, and his contribution to Morocco reaching the quarter-finals.
These figures boost the Real Madrid player's chances in the competition, especially with his continued influential presence at the club level.
Egyptian Imam Ashour also entered the list of five nominees, after delivering outstanding performances with his national team during major tournaments.
According to the report, the Al-Ahly player scored two goals in the 2026 World Cup, and contributed to the Egyptian national team reaching the round of 16, and also participated in the Pharaohs’ journey towards the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations.
The report suggests that these contributions place Ashour among the names that may be included in the official list when it is announced by CAF.
The list included Senegalese players Pape Gueye and Ismaila Sarr, after remarkable statistics they achieved during the 2026 World Cup.
Gaye scored three goals during the tournament, while Sarr scored four, according to figures reported by the Moroccan website.
The report indicated that the players' chances may be affected by the final decision regarding the Africa Cup of Nations title, given the ongoing legal dispute over the tournament's outcome before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, linking the outcome of this file to the chances of winning the award remains merely an estimate from the website, and not an officially declared criterion from CAF.
According to the report, the estimated list includes:
Achraf Hakimi – Morocco,
Brahim Diaz – Morocco
, Pape Gueye – Senegal
, Emam Ashour – Egypt
, Ismaila Sarr – Senegal
Nigeria is expected to host the CAF Ordinary General Assembly and CAF Awards ceremony in 2026.
According to Sport 7, the awards ceremony may be held in Lagos at the end of the year, although no official date for the ceremony has yet been announced.
In contrast, the 48th General Assembly of the African Union is scheduled to be held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on November 21, 2026.
