Ayyoub Bouaddi, Yan Diomande and Ibrahim Maza are the leading contenders for the CAF Best Young Player of the Year award after being named among the 10 nominees for 2026.
The shortlist was announced one week after the three players also appeared in the voting for the Trophee Kopa, which recognises the world’s best young player.
Bouaddi may hold the strongest claim after his performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup. The 18-year-old Manchester City midfielder emerged on the global stage as Morocco reached the quarter-finals.
Despite his limited international experience, the former Lille player impressed particularly in the match against Brazil. Mohamed Ouahbi retained him in midfield throughout the tournament and Bouaddi finished with five appearances and 384 minutes played.
His composure, defensive work-rate and ability to cope with pressure enhanced his reputation considerably. That successful World Cup campaign could prove decisive when the CAF award is voted on.
Bouaddi also finished sixth in the Trophee Kopa standings, ahead of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza, who was ninth.
Diomande had been the highest-ranked of the three in the global under-21 classification, finishing fifth. The Ivorian winger is now established at Real Madrid and has begun to make an impact in both La Liga and the Champions League.
His direct and exciting style, combined with the greater exposure that comes with playing for Real Madrid, could work in his favour. Votes from former Ballon d’Or winners including Ronaldinho and Rivaldo showed his popularity during the Trophee Kopa process.
Maza’s case is built on his all-round contribution. The Algeria international has continued to develop at Bayer Leverkusen while taking on a more important role with the Fennecs.
Able to create chances, score and bring team-mates into play, he has become one of the most promising figures in Algeria’s new generation. Although his Trophee Kopa ranking was below that of Bouaddi and Diomande, the CAF award is judged in a different context.
Performances for African national teams and the views of voters on the continent could narrow the gap. Maza’s place in the global top 10 remains a significant argument in his favour, while Lionel Messi ranked him third in his Trophee Kopa vote.
Christian Kofane is another serious contender after his rise with Bayer Leverkusen and Cameroon. The shortlist also includes Ivorian Christ Inao, Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane and Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye, all members of a younger generation already involved with major European clubs.
The remaining nominees are Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim, Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi and Mali’s Ismael Kamissoko. They have less international experience and visibility than the three leading candidates.
Diomande has the biggest club profile, Bouaddi the strongest World Cup campaign and Maza the most consistent overall case, leaving the award finely balanced between three contrasting claims.