Victor Osimhen’s successor as African Footballer of the Year to be named December 16

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony, which honours the best performers in African football, will take place on December 16 in Morocco.

This marks the third consecutive year that the North African nation will host the event, following successful editions in 2022 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora and 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech.

While the exact venue for the 2024 ceremony has not been disclosed, the decision to award hosting rights to Morocco was made by the CAF Executive Committee.

The awards will recognize outstanding achievements in both club and national team competitions during the period from September 2023 to June 2024.

Established in 2000, the CAF Awards, often referred to as the African Ballon d’Or, pay tribute to the finest African footballers and figures in the sport.

The ceremony encompasses various categories, including the coveted African Player of the Year award, which has been presented annually since 1992, with Ghana’s Abedi Pele being the inaugural recipient.

Other notable accolades include the African Women’s Player of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Club of the Year awards, among others.

The previous edition in 2023 proved to be a fruitful one for Nigeria as Victor Osimhen currently on loan at Turkish side Galatasaray won the Footballer of the Year. Asisat Oshoala won the Women’s title for the sixth time.

Two top Nigerians, Ademola Lookman of Atalanta and Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen are leading candidates for the African Footballer of the Year due to their outstanding season in Europe.

Moroccan football also benefited, with the Atlas Lions named Best National Team, Walid Regragui crowned Best Coach, Fatima Tagnaout recognized as Best Women’s Interclubs Player, Nesryne El Chad awarded Young Female Player of the Year, and Yassine Bounou named Goalkeeper of the Year.

In addition to the CAF Awards, Morocco is set to host the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League from November 9 to 23 and the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The latter marks the third time the country has been granted the honor of organizing the continental tournament, following the 2022 and 2024 editions.

These events further solidify Morocco’s position as a premier destination for football on the African continent.