The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to honour the continent’s finest footballers, coaches, and clubs at the 2024 CAF Awards ceremony.
The event slated to hold on Monday, December 16, in Marrakech, Morocco will likely see Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Zambia’s Barbra Banda crowned as the men’s and women’s African Footballers of the Year, respectively.
What are the CAF Awards?
The CAF Awards, organized annually by the Confederation of African Football, celebrate the achievements of African football over the past year.
The awards began in 2000, but the African Footballer of the Year accolade dates back to 1992 under CAF. Before then, the award was managed by French publication France Football, with Mali’s Salif Keita receiving the first honor in 1970.
This year’s ceremony will feature 15 awards, recognizing achievements in both men’s and women’s football, as well as the prestigious Goal of the Year award.
Date, Time, and How to Watch
The 2024 CAF Awards will take place at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech. The event starts at 19:00 Moroccan time (18:00 GMT, 19:00 Lagos time, 20:00 Johannesburg time, and 21:00 East African time). Players and officials are expected to arrive 90 minutes before the start.
CAF has not confirmed a live stream yet, but the event is likely to be broadcast on the CAF website and YouTube channel, as in previous years. Additionally, SuperSport will air the ceremony on its Variety 4 and Africa 1 channels.
Nominees and Categories
African Women’s Footballer of the Year Nominees:
Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride): A favorite to win, Banda made history by becoming the first Zambian shortlisted for the award. She scored 13 goals in the NWSL season, led Orlando Pride to their first title, and excelled for Zambia at the Paris Olympics.
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais): A prolific striker who transitioned from Paris Saint-Germain to Lyon after winning the Coupe de France.
Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current): The NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner.
Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR): A standout performer in the Moroccan league.
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC): The Nigerian goalkeeper has been a pillar for her club and country.
African Men’s Footballer of the Year Nominees:
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta): The front-runner, Lookman led Atalanta to Serie A’s top spot and Nigeria to the AFCON final. His hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen further solidifies his claim.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain): A key player for both club and country.
Simon Adingra (Côte d’Ivoire / Brighton): A rising star in the Premier League.
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns): Competes for both Goalkeeper and Interclub Player of the Year awards.
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund): A top performer in the Bundesliga.
CAF Goal of the Year Nominees:
Eleven goals from CAF competitions have been shortlisted, including strikes by Abdul Aziz Issah (Dreams FC), Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire), and Yassine Benzia (Algeria).
Fans can vote online until December 12, with their votes contributing 70% of the final decision.
