Amad Diallo nominated for African Player of the Year
The Manchester United winger is the sole Ivorian contender for the 2026 award, to be presented in Lagos.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced its 10 nominees for the 2026 African Player of the Year award on Wednesday, November 4. Amad Diallo of Manchester United is the only Ivorian player on the list, competing against three nominees each from Morocco and Senegal. The winner will be revealed on December 7 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Diallo represents Ivory Coast alone among the 10 selected players, who hail from six different nations. Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, the 2025 titleholder, is nominated alongside Brahim Díaz and Ismaël Saibari. Senegal's contenders are Sadio Mané, Ismaïla Sarr, and Pape Gueye. Other nominees include Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), and Teboho Mokoena (South Africa).
Hakimi is considered a strong contender due to his status as the reigning champion and Morocco's multiple nominations. Diallo faces the challenge of overcoming a difficult season with Manchester United. The CAF Awards ceremony will also announce winners in other categories, such as best goalkeeper, where Morocco's Yassine Bounou is nominated.
Why it mattersAmad Diallo, the only Ivorian nominated for the African Player of the Year award, faces strong competition from titleholder Achraf Hakimi.