Omanghana
Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo has been named among 10 nominees for the 2026 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award following an impressive year for Manchester City and the Black Stars.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the shortlist on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The winner will be revealed at the CAF Awards in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 7, 2026.
Semenyo will compete against a field that includes reigning winner Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and former winner Sadio Mané of Senegal.
A Memorable Year for Club and Country
Semenyo joined Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth in January 2026 and made an impact in Pep Guardiola’s team.
One of his standout moments came in the FA Cup final, where his back-heel finish secured a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley. He was also named in the 2025/26 PFA Premier League Team of the Year, becoming the first Ghanaian to earn a place in the side.
At international level, the forward helped Ghana reach the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars lost 1-0 to Colombia. He was named player of the match in Ghana’s opening victory over Panama.
2026 Men’s Player of the Year Nominees
CAF’s 10-man shortlist is:
| Player | Country | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Antoine Semenyo | Ghana | Manchester City |
| Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Brahim Díaz | Morocco | Real Madrid |
| Ismael Saibari | Morocco | Bayern Munich |
| Sadio Mané | Senegal | Al-Nassr |
| Ismaïla Sarr | Senegal | Crystal Palace |
| Pape Gueye | Senegal | Villarreal |
| Amad Diallo | Côte d’Ivoire | Manchester United |
| Yoane Wissa | DR Congo | Newcastle United |
| Teboho Mokoena | South Africa | Mamelodi Sundowns |
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen are absent from the shortlist.
Ghana’s Wait for the Award
If Semenyo wins, he will become the first Ghanaian to claim the CAF Men’s Player of the Year honor since Abedi Ayew “Pelé” in 1992.
Ghana also has representation in other categories: midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi has been nominated for Men’s Young Player of the Year, while the Black Stars are shortlisted for Men’s National Team of the Year.
Source: Omanghana
