Salah, Hakimi to battle for African player of the year award

By Peter Ochieng

Battle lines have been drawn as Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah, Morrocan defender Achraf Hakimi and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen battle for the 2023 African player of the year award.

Salah plies his trade in England with Liverpool, Hakimi is a key figure in French Ligue 1's PSG side while Osimhen's 26 goals propelled Napoli to the Italian Serie A title last term, for the first time in 33 years.

The Egyptian is in race for a third award, after being crowned in 2017 and 2018.

2022 winner, Senegalese striker Sadio Mane did not make the three-man final shortlist, largely due to his decision to swap German giants Bayern Munich with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nasr at the end of last season.

Confederations of African Football (CAF) on Thursday unveiled the top three nominees for all the categories for the CAF awards 2023.

The ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of CAF technical committee, media professionals from member associations, head coaches and captains of member associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

The Awards Gala will take place on Monday, 11th December 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco.

Full List of Nominees (in alphabetic order by Member Association):

Player of the Year (Men)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)

Player of the Year (Women)

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)

Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)

Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men)

Fiston Mayele (DR Congo, Pyramids)

Peter Shalulile (Namibia, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women)

Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)

Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Coach of the Year (Men)

Abdelhak Benchika (Algeria, Simba SC)

Walid Regragui (Morocco)

Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

Coach of the Year (Women)

Reynald Pedros (Morocco)

Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Jerry Tshabalala (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)

Andre Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United)

Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt, Al Ahly)

Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)

Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)

Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)

Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Young Player of the Year (Men)

Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco, Real Betis)

Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)

Amara Diouf (Senegal, Metz)

Young Player of the Year (Women)

Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)

Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)

Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburgh Panthers)

National Team of the Year (Men)

Gambia

Morocco

Senegal

National Team of the Year (Women)

Morocco

Nigeria

South

Africa Club of the Year (Men)

Al Ahly (Egypt) Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Club of the Year (Women)

AS FAR (Morocco)

Sporting Casablanca (Morocco)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)