Ghanaian duo Antoine Semenyo and Caleb Yirenkyi have earned nominations for the CAF Awards 2026, offering the country a strong presence in the continent’s most prestigious individual football honours.

Semenyo has been shortlisted among the ten contenders for the Men’s Player of the Year award, while Yirenkyi is in contention for the Men’s Young Player of the Year prize following an impressive breakthrough season in European football.

The Black Stars have also secured a nomination for Men’s National Team of the Year after an encouraging campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2026, where Ghana reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010.

The nominations, announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday, November 4, place Ghana alongside some of the continent’s leading football nations ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for December 7 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Semenyo‘s Nomination Ends Ghana’s Top 10 Shortlist Wait

Antoine Semenyo’s nomination is particularly significant because no Ghanaian had featured in the final ten of the Men’s Player of the Year category since Asamoah Gyan’s inclusion in 2014. Gyan progressed to the final five that year but ultimately missed out on the award.

His inclusion in the Men’s Player of the Year category represents recognition of his growing influence in European football and his contributions to the Black Stars.

The Manchester City forward enjoyed an impressive 2025/26 Premier League campaign, scoring 17 goals and providing four assists in 37 appearances across spells with Bournemouth and Manchester City.

He began the season at Bournemouth, where he registered 10 goals and three assists in 20 league appearances before completing a January move to Manchester City. His impressive performances earned him a place among the Premier League’s most productive attacking players and attracted interest from several top clubs.

Semenyo maintained his scoring form following his switch to the Etihad Stadium, contributing seven goals and one assist in 17 Premier League appearances as he adapted to Pep Guardiola’s demanding system.

His numbers were built on a strong foundation from the previous campaign, when he scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 37 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth during the 2024/25 season.

Beyond his club contributions, Semenyo also played an important role for Ghana at the 2026 World Cup, where the Black Stars progressed beyond the group stage and reached the knockout rounds for the first time since their historic quarter-final appearance in South Africa in 2010.

Hakimi Leads Star-Studded Race

Semenyo faces formidable competition, with reigning African Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi among the leading favourites to retain the award.

The Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender is joined on the shortlist by former winner Sadio Mané, Senegal teammates Ismaila Sarr and Pape Gueye, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari, Côte d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo, DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa and South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena.

Hakimi enters the race with a strong case following another outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco. He helped Morocco reach the 2025 AFCON final before contributing a big part as PSG defended their European crown.

His influence for club and country, coupled with his status as the reigning winner, places him in a favourable position.

Mané’s experience and continued contribution to Senegal also make him a serious contender, while Gueye’s performances at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations strengthen his credentials.

Diaz and Saibari benefit from Morocco’s impressive international campaign, while Mokoena’s contribution to Mamelodi Sundowns’ continental success gives him a compelling case.

For Semenyo, the challenge will be whether his impressive Premier League numbers and growing international reputation will be just enough recognition to overcome players with significant continental and international achievements.

A victory would make him the first Ghanaian to win the award since Abedi Ayew Pele claimed the honour in 1992, ending a 34-year wait for the country.

Yirenkyi Rewarded for Breakthrough Season

Yirenkyi’s nomination for Men’s Young Player of the Year provides another major boost for Ghana following his rapid progress in European football.

The midfielder earned recognition after an impressive spell with Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, where his performances demonstrated his technical quality, maturity and potential at a young age.

His development in Denmark attracted wider attention, eventually paving the way for a move to Coventry City in the English Premier League.

He further enhanced his reputation at the World Cup, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Panama in Ghana’s opening match. The decisive contribution underlined his ability to influence important matches on the biggest stage.

Yirenkyi will compete against Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza, Cameroon’s Christian Kofane, Côte d’Ivoire’s Christ Inao and Yan Diomande, Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim, Mali’s Ismael Kamissoko, Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane and Ayoub Bouaddi, and Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye.

Maza and Kofane are particularly strong competitors given their development at Bayer Leverkusen, while Diomande’s performances for Real Madrid and Mbaye’s progress at Aston Villa also strengthen their respective cases. Nevertheless, Yirenkyi’s World Cup contribution and impressive European breakthrough give him a credible opportunity.

Black Stars Complete Ghana’s Representation

Ghana’s presence in the nominations is further strengthened by the Black Stars’ inclusion in the Men’s National Team of the Year category.

The four-time African champions are among ten national teams recognised following Africa’s historic showing at the 2026 World Cup, which featured a record ten representatives from the continent.

Ghana joins Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia on the shortlist.

Morocco’s successive World Cup quarter-final appearance and Cabo Verde’s historic debut provide strong competition, while Egypt’s progression to the Round of 16 also strengthens its credentials.

For Ghana, however, reaching the knockout stage after missing out on that achievement in the previous two World Cup editions represents a significant step forward.

The December 7 ceremony will determine whether Semenyo, Yirenkyi and the Black Stars can convert their nominations into awards, but Ghana’s representation across three major categories already highlights an encouraging year for the country’s football.