Achraf Hakimi leads Morocco’s three-man bid for 2026 Caf Player of the Year

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced the nominees for its 2026 Player of the Year award, with Morocco represented by Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz and Ismail Saibari.

Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender, is joined by Real Madrid midfielder Diaz and Bayern Munich player Saibari in a shortlist that also includes three Senegal internationals: Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace, Pape Gueye of Villarreal and Sadio Mane of Al-Nassr.

The remaining nominees are Amad Diallo of Manchester United, Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United, Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City and South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena of Sundowns.

Morocco’s case is strengthened by winning the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, while the national team also reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup before being eliminated by France.

Hakimi appears to have the strongest individual claim. He won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain for a second consecutive season, as well as the French league title, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. He was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or, which was won by Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane days ago.

Saibari enjoyed an impressive season with PSV before moving to Bayern Munich and scored three goals for Morocco at the World Cup. Diaz did not win a trophy with Real Madrid, but was a prominent performer for Morocco.

Senegal’s challenge

Mane, who was also nominated for the latest Ballon d’Or, was one of Senegal’s leading players at the Africa Cup of Nations. At the World Cup, however, he recorded one assist before Senegal went out in the round of 32 against Belgium. He did win the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr.

Sarr helped Crystal Palace win the 2025-26 Conference League, the first European trophy in the club’s history, and was named the competition’s best player. Gueye contributed to Villarreal finishing third in La Liga last season, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 30 league appearances.

The presence of three Moroccan nominees has raised the possibility of a repeat of the voting pattern seen in the Ballon d’Or. Kane won that award ahead of Kylian Mbappe, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Rodri finished third and fourth.

France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia said votes were split between Yamal and Rodri, who had won the World Cup with Spain. He also said the same issue affected Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele, arguing that the club should have focused its promotion on him rather than Dembele, Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Morocco could face a similar division between Hakimi and Diaz, although Hakimi’s achievements with Paris Saint-Germain give him a clear advantage. Senegal’s three nominees may also divide their country’s support.

Each voter selects five players, earning five points for first place, four for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. The electorate consists of national-team coaches and captains from all 54 Caf member associations, Caf’s technical study group and one media representative from each association.

The 2026 Caf Awards ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, 7 December.