Caleb Yirenkyi has made a good start to his Coventry City career - and it hasn't gone unnoticed

Coventry City midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi has been nominated for CAF’s Men's Young Player of the Year award.

The 20-year-old has been included on a ten-strong short-list alongside the likes of Yan Diomande, the Ivory Coast star who moved to Real Madrid for a reported £104.2 million in the summer and Manchester City’s Ayoub Bouaddi, a £85.6m signing from Lille.

Yirenkyi made his own summer move from FC Nordsjælland for around £20.85m and has been a fixture in Frank Lampard’s improving team. The Ghanaian international has featured in every Premier League game for the Sky Blues and started seven with his energy and athleticism catching the eye.

For CAF, the Confederation of African Football, it was his displays at the World Cup which earned him a nomination, with their statement crediting his ‘breakthrough at the FIFA World Cup 2026, where he scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Panama in the Black Stars' opening match.

His performances at the tournament were followed by a move from Danish club FC Nordsjælland to Coventry City.’

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CAF continue: “Morocco's Ismael Saibari is not listed in this category, but the country's impressive emerging generation is represented by Abdellah Ouazane and Ayoub Bouaddi.

“Algeria's Ibrahim Maza and Cameroon's Christian Kofane, both of Bayer Leverkusen, are also recognised, reflecting the continued emergence of African talent in European football.

“Côte d'Ivoire has two nominees in Christ Inao and Yan Diomande, while Egypt's Hamza Abdelkarim and Mali's Ismael Kamissoko represent North and West Africa respectively.

“Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye completes the shortlist following his progress in European football.”

Yirenkyi, Aston Villa’s Mbaye and City’s Bouaddi are the only Premier League nominations.

Full list: Ibrahim Maza (Algeria/Bayer Leverkusen); Christian Kofane (Cameroon/Bayer Leverkusen); Christ Inao (Côte d'Ivoire/Fiorentina); Yan Diomande (Côte d'Ivoire/Real Madrid); Hamza Abdelkarim (Egypt/Barcelona); Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana/ Coventry City ); Ismael Kamissoko (Mali/Etoiles Mandé); Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/Ajax); Ayoub Bouaddi (Morocco/Manchester City); Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal/Aston Villa)