The CAF Awards 2024 are set to be a grand celebration of African football, recognizing the continent's top players, coaches, and teams for their outstanding performances over the past year.
The prestigious event will take place at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday, December 16. This annual ceremony, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), aims to honor the best in African football, with awards spanning various categories for both men and women.
One of the highlights of this year's awards is the nomination of Nigeria's national teams, the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons, for the National Team of the Year award.
The Super Eagles, Nigeria's men's national team, have been recognized for their impressive performances throughout the year, while the Super Falcons, the women's national team, continue to be a dominant force in African women's football. Both teams have shown exceptional skill and determination, earning them a place among the continent's elite.
In the men's category, the competition for the African Player of the Year is fierce, with notable nominees including Ademola Lookman from Nigeria, who plays for Atalanta in Italy, and Achraf Hakimi from Morocco, representing Paris Saint-Germain.
These players have demonstrated remarkable talent and have been instrumental in their respective teams' successes. Other contenders for this coveted title include Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, Serhou Guirassy from Guinea, and Ronwen Williams from South Africa.
On the women's side, Barbra Banda from Zambia is a strong contender for the Women's African Footballer of the Year. Banda has had an outstanding year, highlighted by her performance in the NWSL Championship game, where she scored the only goal and was named the game's MVP. Joining her in the race for the top prize are Rasheedat Ajibade from Nigeria and Sanaa Mssoudy from Morocco, both of whom have made significant contributions to their teams.
The CAF Awards also recognize young talent, with categories such as the Young Player of the Year. In the men's division, players like Carlos Baleba from Cameroon and Karim Konate from Ivory Coast are among the nominees, showcasing the future stars of African football. For the women, Habiba Sabry from Egypt and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu from Nigeria are in contention, highlighting the rising talents in the women's game.
Coaches are not left out, as the Coach of the Year award acknowledges the strategic minds behind the teams' successes. In the men's category, Pedro Goncalves from Angola and Hugo Broos from South Africa are among the nominees, while in the women's division, Bankole Olowookere from Nigeria and Mohamed Amine Alioua from Morocco are recognized for their leadership and tactical acumen.
The CAF Awards ceremony promises to be a glittering affair, celebrating the achievements of African footballers and teams. It will begin at 19:00 Moroccan time (18:00 GMT/19:00 Lagos time/20:00 Johannesburg, CAT time/21:00 East African time), with players and officials expected to arrive 90 minutes before the start.
While CAF has yet to confirm a live stream for the event, it is anticipated that the ceremony will be broadcast on CAF's official website and YouTube channel, as well as on SuperSport Variety 4 in South Africa and SuperSport Africa 1 for the rest of the continent.
The voting process for the CAF Awards involves a diverse panel, including media members, head coaches, club and national-team captains, and the CAF Technical Committee. Fan voting is limited to the Goal of the Year award, where fans can vote on CAF's official site, contributing 70 percent of the total score, with the remaining 30 percent determined by CAF's Technical Experts.
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