Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has earned a nomination for the prestigious 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men's Player of the Year award following an outstanding campaign for club and country.

The Manchester City forward is among 10 footballers shortlisted for the continental honour, with CAF officially announcing the nominees on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Semenyo's inclusion marks another major milestone in his growing career and provides Ghana with renewed hope of ending a 34-year wait for the prestigious individual award.

The 26-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2025/26 campaign, recording 21 goals and six assists across all competitions, according to season statistics reported following the conclusion of the campaign. His performances also earned him recognition in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Team of the Year.

Semenyo Faces Strong Competition for CAF's Top Individual Award

Semenyo will compete against some of Africa's most established football stars for the 2026 award.

The shortlist includes reigning African Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, former winner Sadio Mané of Senegal, and several other influential players who delivered impressive performances during the year under review.

The complete list of nominees includes:

  1. Amad Diallo – Côte d'Ivoire (Manchester United)

  2. Yoane Wissa – DR Congo (Newcastle United)

  3. Antoine Semenyo – Ghana (Manchester City)

  4. Ismael Saibari – Morocco (Bayern Munich)

  5. Achraf Hakimi – Morocco (Paris Saint-Germain)

  6. Brahim Díaz – Morocco (Real Madrid)

  7. Ismaïla Sarr – Senegal (Crystal Palace)

  8. Pape Gueye – Senegal (Villarreal)

  9. Sadio Mané – Senegal (Al-Nassr)

  10. Teboho Mokoena – South Africa (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Hakimi will be seeking to retain the title he won in 2025, while Mané will be looking to add another continental individual honour to his collection.

Ghana's 34-Year Wait for Another CAF Player of the Year

Semenyo's nomination has generated excitement among Ghanaian football supporters, particularly because the country has not won the men's African Player of the Year award since 1992.

Ghanaian football legend Abedi Ayew 'Pele' remains the country's only winner of the prestigious honour, having claimed the award in 1992.

Several Ghanaian football greats, including Samuel Osei Kuffour, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan and André Ayew, have also received recognition in the award's history.

Semenyo now has an opportunity to follow in Abedi Pele's footsteps and become the second Ghanaian to win the continental award.

CAF Awards 2026 Scheduled for December in Lagos

The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 7, in Lagos, Nigeria.

The ceremony will celebrate outstanding achievements in African football across various categories, including Men's Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Club of the Year.

Ghana also has representation in other categories, with midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi nominated for Men's Young Player of the Year and the Black Stars featuring among the nominees for Men's National Team of the Year.

For Semenyo, the nomination represents another significant achievement in a career that continues to elevate Ghana's profile in international football.

Whether he can turn the nomination into a historic victory will be determined when African football's leading personalities gather in Lagos in December.