The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is gearing up to celebrate Africa’s top football talents at the 2024 CAF Awards, set to take place on Monday, December 16, in Marrakech, Morocco.
The prestigious event will recognize outstanding players, coaches, and clubs across the continent.
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This year’s ceremony, hosted at the Palais des Congrès, will begin at 19:00 Moroccan time (18:00 GMT). Fans can anticipate watching the event on the CAF website, YouTube channel, and SuperSport’s Variety 4 and Africa 1 channels, though CAF has yet to confirm the live stream details.
Prestigious awards and nominees
The ceremony will feature 15 award categories, including the coveted African Footballer of the Year for both men and women.
Men’s Footballer of the Year nominees include:
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta): The favorite, Lookman, has had a stellar year, leading Atalanta to Serie A’s top spot and Nigeria to the AFCON final. He further cemented his legacy with a hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League final win.
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain): A critical figure for both his club and national team.
- Simon Adingra (Côte d’Ivoire / Brighton): A standout performer in the Premier League.
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns): A dual contender for Goalkeeper and Interclub Player of the Year awards.
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund): A star in the Bundesliga.
Women’s Footballer of the Year nominees include:
- Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride): A frontrunner, Banda made history as the first Zambian shortlisted for this award. Her 13 goals in the NWSL season and Olympic heroics for Zambia have solidified her position.
- Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais): A prolific striker who excelled at Lyon after her Paris Saint-Germain stint.
- Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current): The NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner.
- Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR): A standout in Moroccan football.
- Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC): A consistent and reliable goalkeeper for both club and country.
Goal of the year and fan participation
Among the highlights of the event is the Goal of the Year award, with nominees such as Abdul Aziz Issah (Dreams FC), Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire), and Yassine Benzia (Algeria) making the shortlist. Fans can cast their votes online until December 12, contributing 70% to the final decision.
A legacy of celebrating African football
The CAF Awards, first held in 2000, have become a cornerstone in recognizing African football excellence. While the African Footballer of the Year award dates back to 1992 under CAF, its origins trace back to 1970 when France Football magazine introduced the accolade, with Mali’s Salif Keita as its first recipient.
This year’s ceremony is set to spotlight the continent’s footballing achievements, honoring both emerging stars and seasoned professionals who have excelled on and off the pitch.
