CAF Awards

CAF has revealed the top three finalists for all the women and men categories ahead of the CAF Awards ceremony on Thursday in Morocco. Photo: CAF

CAF awards: Mane v Salah v Mendy for Player of the Year title

CAF has revealed the top three finalists for all the women and men categories ahead of the CAF Awards ceremony on Thursday in Morocco.

CAF Awards

CAF has revealed the top three finalists for all the women and men categories ahead of the CAF Awards ceremony on Thursday in Morocco. Photo: CAF

With less than 48 hours to the highly-anticipated 2022 CAF Awards, CAF has revealed the top three finalists for all the women and men categories ahead of the ceremony on Thursday, 21 July, in Rabat, Morocco.

The evening will start at 21:00 (SA time).

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In the men’s category for the main Player of the Year award, former winners Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of Egypt and Senegal, respectively, will have to battle it out with Senegal shot-stopper Edouard Mendy.

In the women’s Player of the Year category, four-time winner Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria is in the hunt for a fifth crown. However, she faces stiff opposition from Cameroonian Ajara Nchout Njoya and new entrant Grace Chanda of Zambia.

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There is South African representation throughout the categories, particularly in the women’s section.

Andile Dlamini and Bambanani Mbanie will battle for the women’s Interclub Player of the Year award, while Desiree Ellis and Jerry Tshabalala are up for the women’s Coach of the Year trophy.

Mamelodi Sundowns are in the running for the women’s Club of the Year.

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Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates failed to make the final cut for the men’s Team of the Year, while Pitso Mosimane isn’t among the final three for men’s Coach of the Year.

Percy Tau was also eliminated from contention for the men’s Interclub Player of the Year award.

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Full and final list of CAF Award nominees (in alphabetical order); 

Player of the Year (Women)

Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon & Internazionale Milano)

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)

Grace Chanda (Zambia & BIIK Kazygurt)

Player of the Year (Men)

Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women)

Andile Dlamini (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Bambanani Mbanie (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns) 

Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes) 

Interclub Player of the Year (Men)

Achraf Dari (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)

Aliou Dieng (Mali & Al Ahly)

Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt & Al Ahly)

Young Player of the Year (Women)

Doris Boaduwaa (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies)

Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes)

Yasmine Zouhir (Morocco & AS Saint-Etienne)

Young Player of the Year (Men) 

Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia & Manchester United)

Karim Konate (Cote d’Ivoire & ASEC/RB Salzburg)

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal & Tottenham Hotspur)

Coach of the Year (Women)

Bruce Mwape (Zambia)

Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Reynald Pedros (Morocco)

Coach of the Year (Men)

Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

Carlos Queiroz (Egypt)

Walid Regragui (Wydad Athletic Club)

Club of the Year (Women)

AS FAR (Morocco)

Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Club of the Year (Men)

Al Ahly (Egypt)

RS Berkane (Morocco)

Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)

National Team of the Year (Men) 

Cameroon

Egypt

Senegal

National Team of the Year (Women) 

Due to the absence of a major women’s competition during the period under review, the Organising Team for the CAF Awards 2022 has reviewed the selection process for this important category. The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco will be factored as one of the criterion in deciding a winner befitting of the status of the award and women’s football in general. The winner will be announced on 23 July 2022 during the final match of the Women’s AFCON.

Goal of the Year

Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi & AmaZulu)

Pape Ousmane Sakho (Senegal & Simba)

Zouhair El Moutaraji (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)