According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim has earned a place among the nominees for the 2026 CAF Young Player of the Year award.

The 18-year-old Egyptian striker has been named on the final 10-player shortlist, which features several highly rated prospects, including Manchester City youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi.

His inclusion reflects the progress he has made since joining Barcelona earlier this year. Abdelkarim initially moved to the Catalan giants in February on loan from Egyptian club Al-Ahly and quickly caught attention with his performances for the Juvenil A under-19 side during the second half of last season.

The forward scored six goals in nine league appearances, prompting Barcelona to exercise the permanent purchase option in his loan agreement. His development also earned him an opportunity with the Egyptian national team, where he made his senior debut before representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After completing his permanent transfer, Abdelkarim was given the opportunity to train with Hansi Flick’s first-team squad. He also enjoyed an encouraging pre-season, scoring four goals and demonstrating his attacking potential.

However, regular first-team opportunities have been difficult to secure since the beginning of the 2026/27 campaign. The teenager has played only 12 minutes for Barcelona’s senior team this season, while his sole appearance for Barcelona Atletic has produced one goal.

Despite his limited involvement, Barcelona remain optimistic about his potential, and the CAF nomination provides further recognition of his progress.

Abdelkarim will face strong competition for the continental award, with Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande and Manchester City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi also included among the candidates. Bayer Leverkusen are represented by Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane.

The remaining nominees are Christ Inao, Caleb Yirenkyi, Ismael Kamissoko, Abdellah Ouazane and Aston Villa’s Ibrahim Mbaye.

Being named among Africa’s 10 leading young-player candidates represents another significant achievement for Abdelkarim as he continues working towards establishing himself at Barcelona.