Ghana is well-represented in the 2023 CAF Awards, with three standout players earning nominations. Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, and Ernest Nuamah are all in the running for various categories.
Partey and Kudus have secured nominations for the prestigious Men’s Player of the Year award. Both players earned their spots among the 30 shortlisted by CAF. Partey showcased his brilliance during Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, where the Gunners came tantalisingly close to seizing the title from Manchester City. He also played a crucial role in inspiring Ghana to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and performed admirably during the tournament.
Kudus, on the other hand, shone as Ajax’s best player last season, netting an impressive 18 goals in all competitions and contributing seven assists. The 23-year-old also stood out as Ghana’s top performer at the World Cup.
They face stiff competition from top players including Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who is the frontrunner due to his remarkable season with Napoli. Osimhen’s 26 goals were pivotal in securing Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years. The nominee list also features Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, treble winner Riyad Mahrez, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, and Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi.
Ernest Nuamah, currently playing for French giants Lyon, has earned a well-deserved nomination for the Young Player of the Year award. The 20-year-old winger delivered an exceptional season in the Danish Superliga while representing FC Nordsjaelland in the 2022-23 season. His remarkable achievements included bagging three individual awards – Young Player of the Year, Best Player for Spring (voted by coaches), and Player of the Season (chosen by fellow players). Nuamah’s stats featured an impressive tally of 15 goals and 4 assists in 34 games.
The list of nominees for the men’s categories of the CAF Awards 2023 was revealed as preparations for the Awards Gala, scheduled for December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco, gain momentum. The nominations were carefully selected by a panel of CAF Technical Experts, African Football Legends, and media representatives from various countries, with performances from November 2022 to September 2023 taken into consideration.