The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will celebrate the continent’s best footballers, coaches, and clubs at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday, December 16. This prestigious event, which honors the finest in African football, will highlight standout achievements across men’s and women’s football, as well as the coveted Goal of the Year award.
What Are the CAF Awards?
The CAF Awards, established in 2000, recognize the outstanding achievements of African footballers and teams over the past year. The African Footballer of the Year award has been part of CAF’s tradition since 1992, although the honor itself dates back to 1970 when it was first awarded by France Football to Mali’s Salif Keita. Today, the ceremony continues to be one of the most important events in African football, with 15 awards covering both men’s and women’s football.
Date, Time, and How to Watch
The 2024 CAF Awards will take place at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, starting at 19:00 Moroccan time (18:00 GMT, 19:00 Lagos time, 20:00 Johannesburg time, and 21:00 East African time). CAF has yet to confirm a live stream for the event, but it is expected 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 scored 13 goals in the NWSL and led Orlando Pride to their first title while excelling for Zambia at the Paris Olympics.
- Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais): A prolific striker who made a successful move from PSG 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 key player for both club and country.
African Men’s Footballer of the Year Nominees:
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta): The front-runner, Lookman led Atalanta to the top of Serie A and Nigeria to the AFCON final. His hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen bolstered his chances.
- 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): A contender for both Goalkeeper and Interclub Player of the Year.
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund): A standout performer in the Bundesliga.
CAF Goal of the Year Nominees:
Eleven stunning 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 have had the opportunity to vote for their favorites, with online votes contributing 70% of the final decision.
The 2024 CAF Awards will celebrate excellence across African football, recognizing individual brilliance and team success on the continent’s biggest stage.
