Mohamed Salah left out of CAF African Player of the Year shortlist

The omission of Mohamed Salah from the 2026 CAF African Player of the Year shortlist has prompted widespread debate, with supporters questioning whether Teboho Mokoena took the Trabzonspor forward’s place.

Salah’s absence was the most notable feature of the list announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday. The decision has divided opinion on social media, with some welcoming it and others arguing that the Egypt captain deserved to be included.

Morocco has a strong presence among the nominees, represented by Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid and Ismail Saibari of Bayern Munich.

Senegal also has three players on the shortlist: Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye and Al Nassr striker Sadio Mane.

The remaining nominees are Ivory Coast and Manchester United player Amad Diallo, DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United, Ghana and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, and South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mokoena’s inclusion has been cited by those who believe Salah should have been selected. He plays in a domestic league that, in the view of his critics, is not even the strongest competition in Africa.

The South African earned his nomination after helping Mamelodi Sundowns win the CAF Champions League. He also featured for South Africa at the World Cup, scoring one goal.

Salah, meanwhile, endured an inconsistent season with Liverpool but helped Egypt reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. He also played a key role as the Pharaohs reached the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.

Egypt came close to reaching the quarter-finals before surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-0 defeat by Argentina.

Since joining Trabzonspor, Salah has produced impressive performances and has become one of the standout players in the Turkish league this season. However, some believe that his form with Liverpool did not justify a place on the shortlist, pointing to a significant decline in his statistics compared with previous years.

The debate now centres on whether Salah’s omission was justified or whether he should at least have been included, even if he was considered unlikely to win the award.

The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, 7 December, in Lagos, Nigeria. The event is expected to be attended by leading figures from African football, including players, coaches and representatives of national associations and clubs.