Moroccan trio make African Player of Year shortlist as Salah absent

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the Confederation of African Football has released shortlists for its end-of-year awards, with three Moroccan men — Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari — among the contenders for African Footballer of the Year. The list does not include Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, a notable omission given his past wins and long-standing status as one of the continent’s most prominent players. The men’s award will be decided on December 2, according to the report.

Hakimi is seeking to retain the title he won last year after a season in which he helped Paris Saint-Germain win a second straight Champions League. Al Jazeera also said Diaz and Saibari were part of Morocco’s strong run in international football, while other shortlisted men include players from Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa. The article adds that several coaches, goalkeepers and young players were also nominated after standout performances at the World Cup.

On the women’s side, Al Jazeera says Cameroon’s success at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been reflected across the awards. Monique Ngock, Michaely Bihina and Marie Ngah Manga are among the nominees after helping Cameroon win the tournament. Ngock was named player of the tournament, Bihina was recognised as best goalkeeper, and Ngah Manga scored twice in the final. Other women’s nominees include players from Zambia, Malawi and South Africa, with young-player and goalkeeper categories also heavily shaped by WAFCON performances.