Osimhen, Lookman, Others Snubbed as Hakimi Favourite to Retain CAF Award - THISDAYLIVE

Nigeria’s top players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were ignored in the Confederation of African Football’s CAF Awards list unveiled yesterday.

The CAF Award ceremony is scheduled to hold in Lagos pm December 7.

In the men’s categories released on Wednesday, no Nigerian male player secured nomination in Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Interclub Player of the Yeat, Coach of the year, Young Player of the Year, National Team of the year; and Club of the Year.

However, reigning Player of the Year, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi headlines the  men’s individual nominations, alongside former winner, Sadio Mané, Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo, Morocco’s Brahmin Díaz and Senegal’s Pape Gueye.

Meanwhile, Flamingos rising star Kemi Adegbuyi and Falconets and Benfica striker Janet ‘Semenya’ Akekoromowei have made the 10-person shortlist for the 2026 CAF Young Player (women). 

Edo Queens’ goaltender, Christiana Uzoma was also listed in the goalkeeper category.

Adegbuyi, 16, has been among the goals as the Flamingos reached the U17 World Cup final for the first time.

She has also been outstanding at the WAFU B level as well as in the NWFL.

‘Semenya’, on the other hand, featured for the Falconets at the U20 World Cup in Poland earlier in the year.

Founded on January 22, 1995, THISDAY is published by THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LTD., 35 Creek Road Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria with offices in 36 states of Nigeria , the Federal Capital Territory and around the world. It is Nigeria’s most authoritative news media available on all platforms for the political, business, professional and diplomatic elite and broader middle classes while serving as the meeting point of new ideas, culture and technology for the aspirationals and millennials. The newspaper is a public trust dedicated to the pursuit of truth and reason covering a range of issues from breaking news to politics, business, the markets, the arts, sports and community to the crossroads of people and society.

You can email us at: hello@thisdaylive.com or visit our contact us page.