Ghana has received six nominations across the individual and team categories for the 2026 CAF Awards, with Antoine Semenyo and Caleb Yirenkyi among the country’s leading representatives.
Semenyo has been shortlisted for the Men’s Player of the Year award following an impressive year for club and country, while Yirenkyi is in contention for the Men’s Young Player of the Year prize.
The Manchester City forward faces competition from some of Africa’s leading players, including reigning winner Achraf Hakimi, Senegalese trio Sadio Mane, Pape Gueye and Ismaila Sarr, and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.
Yirenkyi, meanwhile, earned recognition after an impressive breakthrough at international level.
The midfielder was part of the Black Stars squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup before completing a move from Danish side FC Nordsjælland to English Premier League club Coventry City.
The Black Stars have also been nominated for the Men’s National Team of the Year award following their return to the World Cup knockout stage.
Ghana reached the Round of 32 in North America, marking their first appearance in the knockout phase since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
They are among 10 teams shortlisted for the award, alongside Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
In the women’s categories, Black Queens captain Portia Boakye has been nominated for Women’s Player of the Year, while goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan is in contention for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Boakye earned recognition for her leadership and performances during Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the Black Queens reached the quarter-finals.
Konlan also featured prominently during the tournament, making four appearances and keeping one clean sheet as Ghana progressed to the last eight.
The Black Queens have further been nominated for the Women’s National Team of the Year award.
Their nomination follows an eventful year that included reaching the WAFCON quarter-finals and subsequently defeating Ivory Coast in the African play-offs to secure a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 inter-confederation play-offs.
The Black Queens will compete against Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa for the team award.
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 7th, with the continent’s outstanding players, coaches and teams set to be recognised.
