Another blow to Italian soccer from Africa. And to think that in 2023 and 2024…
Another setback for Italian soccer, this time coming directly from Africa. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the names of the ten nominees for the 2026 African Player of the Year award, and one fact immediately stands out: none of the finalists play in Serie A. This absence carries significant weight and highlights—at least in this particular ranking—the gap between our league and other major international tournaments. It’s worth noting that several African players have won the African Ballon d’Or while playing in the Italian league. They are George Weah (Milan, 1995), Patrick Mboma (Parma, 2000), Samuel Eto’o (Inter, 2010), Victor Osimhen (Napoli, 2023), and Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, 2024). Five champions who have propelled Serie A to the pinnacle of African soccer.
Once again, Achraf Hakimi tops the predictions. The 28-year-old Moroccan fullback has had another outstanding season with PSG, winning the Champions League once again and reaching the final of the most recent Africa Cup of Nations with his national team—the outcome of which remains to be seen. Having already won the award in 2025, the former Inter Milan player is now aiming to retain his throne as the best in African soccer for the second consecutive year.
Two of his compatriots will also be vying for the title: Ismael Saibari, 25, who plays for Bayern Munich, and Brahim Diaz, 27, now with Real Madrid after his stint with the Rossoneri. The presence of the former Milan player, along with that of Hakimi, provides further food for thought for Serie A, which has seen some of Africa’s top talents come through its ranks without managing to retain them.
Among the biggest names is Sadio Mané, 34, currently with Al-Nassr. The Senegalese forward, who was named Africa’s best player in 2019 and 2022, is coming off a standout performance at the Africa Cup of Nations. With Senegal, he reached the final, tallying two goals and three assists in seven appearances.
The Senegalese contingent doesn’t stop with Mané. The list of candidates also includes Pape Gueye, 27, a midfielder for Villarreal who previously played for Marseille, and Ismaïla Sarr, 28, now with Crystal Palace after stints in France with Metz and Rennes.
Also in the running is Yoane Wissa, a forward from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who plays for Newcastle. The player, capable of filling various roles on the offensive end, made a name for himself in European soccer thanks in part to his time at Lorient.
Also among the nominees is South African Teboho Mokoena, one of the few finalists still playing on the African continent. The midfielder has also made a name for himself with his national team, scoring against the Czech Republic in the last World Cup in a match that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Rounding out the list are 24-year-old Ivorian Amad Diallo of Manchester United and 26-year-old Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo, a winger for Manchester City.
