For the first time since 2022, no Nigerian player has been nominated for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, with the Super Eagles missing from the 10-man shortlist released on Wednesday.

Nigeria also failed to secure a nomination in any of the seven men’s categories, including Goalkeeper, Interclub Player, Coach, Young Player, National Team and Club of the Year, highlighting a disappointing outing for the country on the continental football scene.

The country’s absence extends to the women’s categories, with the Super Falcons also missing out on the major awards.

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, who won the prestigious award in 2023, and Atletico Madrid’s Ademola Lookman, crowned in 2024, are Nigeria’s most recent winners.

Nigeria was also absent from the final shortlist in 2022.

Despite the country’s omission, Lagos will host this year’s CAF Awards ceremony on Monday, December 7, bringing together leading football personalities to celebrate outstanding achievements across Africa.

Reigning African Player of the Year, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, leads the nominees alongside compatriots Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari.

Former winner Sadio Mane is joined by fellow Senegalese Ismaila Sarr and Pape Gueye, while Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo, South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena and DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa complete the shortlist.

In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou headline the nominees.

Algeria’s Oussama Benbot, Senegal’s Edouard Mendy, Ivory Coast’s Yahia Fofana and DR Congo’s Lionel Mpasi also feature, alongside Cabo Verde’s veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, who earned recognition following his country’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Egyptian duo El-Mahdi Soliman and Mostafa Shobeir, as well as Morocco’s Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, complete the 10-man shortlist.

For the Men’s Coach of the Year award, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso and USM Alger’s Lamine N’Diaye are among the nominees after guiding their respective clubs to the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup titles.

Cabo Verde’s Bubista also earns recognition for leading the island nation to its maiden World Cup qualification.

Others nominated include DR Congo’s Sébastien Desabre, Egypt’s Hossam Hassan, Morocco’s Mohamed Ouahbi and Walid Regragui, Senegal’s Pape Thiaw, AS FAR’s Alexandre Santos and Zamalek’s Moatamed Gamal.

In the Men’s Young Player of the Year category, Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi headlines the nominations following his impressive performances, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Panama at the 2026 World Cup.

Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane and Ayoub Bouaddi, Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza and Cameroon’s Christian Kofane, both of Bayer Leverkusen, are also nominated.

Ivory Coast’s Christ Inao and Yan Diomande, Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim, Mali’s Ismael Kamissoko and Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye complete the shortlist.

Meanwhile, all 10 African countries that featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — Algeria, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia — have been nominated for the National Team of the Year award.