The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled 10 nominees for the 2026 Men’s Player of the Year award, with Super Eagles captain Victor Osimhen and other Nigerian players absent from the shortlist.

The nominees represent 10 African countries, including Senegal, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. Nigeria has no representative in the category.

CAF disclosed the names on its X account on Wednesday, ahead of the 2026 CAF Awards scheduled for December 7 in Lagos.

Senegal’s Sadio Mané, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo are among the notable players shortlisted for the award, alongside seven other nominees.

The 10 contenders are Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), Ismael Saibari (Morocco), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Brahim Diaz (Morocco), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Pape Gueye (Senegal), Sadio Mané (Senegal) and Teboho Mokoena (South Africa).

Nigeria’s absence from the shortlist comes after the Super Eagles failed to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the African play-off final in November 2025.

The encounter ended 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo prevailed 4-3 on penalties, denying Nigeria a place at the tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Despite missing out on the World Cup, the Super Eagles finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which ran from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

The latest announcement follows reports on Tuesday that no Super Falcons player was included in the shortlist for the Women’s Player of the Year award. Nigeria, however, secured representation in the Women’s National Team of the Year category.

The announcement comes a day after reports that no Super Falcons player made the shortlist for the Women’s Player of the Year award, although Nigeria was represented in the Women’s National Team of the Year category.

Other categories announced by CAF include Men’s Young Player of the Year, Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Men’s National Team of the Year, Men’s Club of the Year and Men’s Coach of the Year.