The 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards ceremony is drawing closer, with all eyes on the prestigious Men’s Player of the Year award. This highly anticipated honor has been claimed by some of the best African footballers in history and is now set to be contested by five remarkable players. The finalists for this year’s award are Simon Adingra (Côte d’Ivoire), currently playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League; Serhou Guirassy (Guinea), who has made an impact at Borussia Dortmund in Germany; and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), the Paris Saint-Germain star widely considered one of the best right-backs in the world. Alongside them, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, a key player for Mamelodi Sundowns, and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) of Atalanta, Italy, round out the list of nominees.
As the date for the awards ceremony in Marrakech on December 16th approaches, there has been significant interest in who will take home the coveted prize. The CAF Awards not only recognize individual excellence but also celebrate the global recognition of African football talent. This year’s shortlist reflects a mix of established stars and emerging talents, all of whom have demonstrated outstanding performances for both their clubs and national teams in the past year.
Adding to the excitement, a former Cameroon national team coach has publicly named his favorite to win the award, fueling the ongoing debate among fans and pundits about who truly deserves the title of the best African footballer. This year’s nominees have made their marks across Europe’s top leagues, and their performances have undoubtedly captivated football fans worldwide. As the competition intensifies, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious, but the event in Morocco promises to be a memorable celebration of African football excellence.
