By Kunle Solaja.

Morocco has secured four nominations across the 2026 CAF Women’s Awards, with the Atlas Lionesses and three players earning recognition in the individual and national team categories.

Defender Hanane Aït El Haj leads the Moroccan representation after making the shortlist for Women’s Player of the Year, while AS FAR goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi is nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year.

Barcelona youngster Kautar Azraf completes the individual nominations with a place in the Young Player of the Year category, while the Atlas Lionesses are among the 10 countries shortlisted for National Team of the Year.

The Confederation of African Football announced the nominees on Tuesday, with Morocco represented in all four categories released so far.

Aït El Haj is Morocco’s sole representative in the prestigious Player of the Year category, where she faces competition from Zambia’s Barbra Banda, Malawi’s Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and three Cameroonian players.

The Moroccan defender earned recognition following her performances at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where she helped the Atlas Lionesses reach the semi-finals and subsequently finish fourth.

She was also named in CAF’s Team of the Tournament and scored during Morocco’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over defending champions South Africa.

Er-Rmichi’s nomination recognises her continued contribution to Moroccan women’s football at both club and international levels.

The experienced AS FAR goalkeeper is among 10 contenders for Goalkeeper of the Year, alongside Nigeria’s Christiana Uzoma, Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina, South Africa’s Kaylin Swart and Zambia’s Hazel Nali, among others.

Her nomination adds to an impressive collection of individual recognition, having previously been named Best Goalkeeper of the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2025.

Azraf represents Morocco’s emerging generation of female footballers. The 18-year-old Barcelona player is shortlisted for Young Player of the Year after earning her first senior national team call-up in February 2026.

She subsequently featured at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and scored Morocco’s goal in the third-place encounter against Algeria.

The Atlas Lionesses’ nomination for National Team of the Year follows another appearance in the WAFCON semi-finals and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Morocco will compete against Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria and South Africa for the team award.

The four nominations underline Morocco’s growing presence in African women’s football, with recognition spanning an established international defender, an experienced goalkeeper, an emerging talent and the national team.

However, the country will have to contend with strong competition, particularly from Cameroon, which secured five individual nominations, and Malawi, which recorded four.

Morocco’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak, the reigning Women’s Player of the Year, is notably absent from this year’s shortlist, despite her recognition among the finalists for the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11.

The CAF Women’s Champions League categories, including Women’s Interclub Player of the Year, Women’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Club of the Year, are expected to be announced after the conclusion of the competition in Egypt.

The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place on December 7 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H