Bafana Bafana winger Percy Tau and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile made the 30-man shortlist for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
Tau, 29, has been nominated after lifting three trophies with Al Ahly in 2022/23. was also one of the key players as the Club of the Century lifted their record-extending 11th CAF Champions League title, scoring five goals and setting up five more.
The Bafana vice-captain is the only South African player among the nominees.
Shalulile, meanwhile, shared the DStv Premiership Golden Boot with Khanyisa Mayo after netting 12 times, scored six goals in the CAF Champions League and five more in the Nedbank Cup.
He also netted four goals in four Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for Namibia, helping them to qualify for next year’s AFCON.
The duo will be up against some of Africa’s biggest names, including defending African Player of the Year, Sadio Mane, as well as former winner Salah.
One of the big favourites for this year’s award, though, is Victor Osimhen after he helped Napoli to win their first Serie A title in 33 Years. The Nigerian striker also became the first African player to claim the Series A Golden Boot, famously known as Capocannoniere. The 24-year-old striker also finished the AFCON qualification as top goalscorer after netting 10 times for Nigeria.
CAF have released the following statement on the upcoming CAF Awards, which will take place on 11 December in Marrakesh:
A panel of CAF Technical Experts, African Football Legends and selected media representatives from a number of countries put together the preliminary list for the various categories with the performance of the nominees between November 2022 and September 2023 serving as the period under consideration.
Thirty (30) players made the cut for the top prize; CAF African Player of the Year, whilst 20 players have been nominated for the CAF Interclub Player of the Year. Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year and Club of the Year have ten (10) nominees each just as CAF Young Player of the Year – for players under the age of 21.
For the first time, CAF has introduced the CAF African Goalkeeper of the Year Category (Men and Women) in the prestigious event that seeks to reward and celebrate exceptional Players, Officials and Administrators during the period under review.
It will be the first time that shot stoppers will be acknowledged for their performances, further expanding the network of winners for the annual event. 10 players have been nominated for the novel award.
The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head Coaches & Captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.
The nominees for the Women’s categories will be announced in due course.
Senegal forward Sadio Mane was crowned CAF African Player of the Year whilst Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala was coronated CAF African Women’s Player of the Year for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.
