Ghana has secured nominations in three major men’s categories at the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, with Antoine Semenyo, Caleb Yirenkyi and the Black Stars shortlisted for continental honours.
Semenyo has been nominated for Men’s Player of the Year, Yirenkyi is among the contenders for Men’s Young Player of the Year, while the Black Stars have earned a nomination for Men’s National Team of the Year.
The nominations, announced by CAF on Wednesday, November 4, recognise Ghanaian contributions to African football following an eventful year that included the 2026 FIFA World Cup and major club competitions.
The three nominations give Ghana representation across individual and team categories ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for December 7 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Semenyo Nominated Alongside Hakimi, Mané and Amad Diallo
Semenyo’s nomination follows an impressive 2025/26 campaign in which he established himself among the leading African attacking players in European football.
The 26-year-old Ghana international enjoyed a successful period with Manchester City after joining the Premier League champions from Bournemouth during the winter transfer window.
He contributed to City’s domestic cup successes, with the club winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during the season.
Semenyo also represented Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars reached the knockout stage.
He faces competition from nine other nominees for the prestigious individual award, including reigning African Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and former winner Sadio Mané of Senegal.
Other contenders include Côte d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo, DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa, Morocco’s Brahim Díaz and Ismael Saibari, Senegal’s Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye, and South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena.
Hakimi will be seeking to retain the award after winning the 2025 edition, while Semenyo will hope his performances for club and country earn him his first continental individual honour.
Yirenkyi Earns Recognition After Breakthrough Season
Yirenkyi’s nomination for Men’s Young Player of the Year provides another significant recognition of his progress in European football.
The 20-year-old midfielder enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Danish club FC Nordsjælland, winning the club’s Player of the Season award before being named the Danish Superliga Young Player of the Year.
His performances attracted interest from several clubs, culminating in a reported €30 million transfer to English Championship side Coventry City in August 2026.
Yirenkyi also made an impression on the international stage during the World Cup, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Panama in Ghana’s opening group match.
He is among 10 nominees for the Young Player award, with Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza, Cameroon’s Christian Kofane, Côte d’Ivoire’s Christ Ravynel Inao Oulaï and Yan Diomande also shortlisted.
The remaining nominees are Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim, Mali’s Ismael Kamissoko, Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane and Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye.
The nomination places Yirenkyi among Africa’s emerging football talents following his breakthrough at club and international levels.
Black Stars Earn National Team of the Year Nomination
The Black Stars have also been shortlisted for the Men’s National Team of the Year award following their return to the FIFA World Cup knockout stage.
Ghana are among 10 national teams nominated for the honour, alongside Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
The nomination comes after the Black Stars progressed from Group L at the 2026 World Cup, which was held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ghana opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw in their second group match.
They subsequently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia but secured qualification for the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams.
Their campaign ended in the Round of 32 with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
The qualification marked Ghana’s first appearance in the World Cup knockout stage since the 2010 tournament in South Africa, when the Black Stars reached the quarter-finals.
The national team nomination therefore provides additional recognition for Ghana’s return to the knockout rounds, although the team will be seeking greater consistency in subsequent international competitions.
When Are the 2026 CAF Awards?
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled for Monday, December 7, in Lagos, Nigeria.
The ceremony will recognise outstanding performances across African football, with awards covering individual players, goalkeepers, coaches, young players, clubs and national teams.
Ghana’s three nominations give the country representation in some of the ceremony’s major men’s categories, with Semenyo, Yirenkyi and the Black Stars hoping to convert their shortlisting into continental honours.
