International Football
CAF Awards return to Morocco to celebrate Africa’s finest on 11 December
The hub of African football, Morocco, will again host the CAF Awards which celebrate the stars of African football. Last year’s edition was hosted in Rabat, the green city and capital of Morocco.
This year’s edition is scheduled for 11 December in the same country that boast of basically, the best sporting facility and organisation. With the country having splendid facilities spread across the kingdom, no particular one has been chosen as CAF informed that it will communicate the Moroccan host city in due course.
Last year, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala and Senegal’s Sadio Madio were the stars, winning the top tier awards. While Oshoala may still be in contention for the Woman’s African Footballer of the Year, following her success with FC Barcelona this year.
Similarly, an obvious choice for Africa’s top crown is Nigeria’s in-form striker, Victor Osimhen who has almost become a global phenomenum and a much sort ‘commodity’ by top football clubs.
He is in vantage position to become Nigeria’s first African Footballer of the Year in 33 years. The last Nigerian to win the award is Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. He was given the award by the then CAF President, Issa Hayatou just before the kick-off of the Nigeria-Tunisia match at the 2000 Africa Nations Cup.
This year’s awards holding in a yet to be named Moroccan city will recognise the standout performers from club and country over the past year, with the highlight being the crowning of the CAF African Player of the Year in both the men’s and women’s category.
Mane and Oshoala will face stiff competition from some of continent’s brightest stars who have shone in the last 12 months.
Previous winners of the men category include Ivorian Yaya Tourer (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014), Samuel Eto’o (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010), Didier Drogba (2006 and 2009), Mohammed Salah (2017, 2018), Riyad Mahrez (2016), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and1999), Abedi Pele (1992) and the great George Weah (1995) amongst some of the colourful previous winners.
In the women’s category, while Oshoala has dominated the category in recent years winning in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022 – she still faces competition from previous winners including Thembi Kgatlana (2018) who are still active. This category counts amongst its previous winners former Super Eagle’s Perpetua Nkwocha (2004, 2005, 2010 and 2011).
Several more honours will also be at stake, including the Interclub Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, National Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year and Goal of the Year.
The Interclubs Women’s Player of the Year award, which was introduced last year after the successful launch of the CAF Women’s Champions League, will continue this year.
The period under review for the CAF Awards 2023 spans from September 2022 until June 2023, encompassing an extraordinary chapter in African football history.
CAF African Player of the Year previous winners : (men)
| Year | Winner |
| 2022 | Sadio Mane |
| 2019 | Sadio Mane |
| 2018 | Mohamed Salah |
| 2017 | Mohamed Salah |
| 2016 | Riyad Mahrez |
| 2015 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang |
| 2014 | Yaya Toure |
| 2013 | Yaya Toure |
| 2012 | Yaya Toure |
| 2011 | Yaya Toure |
| 2010 | Samuel Eto’o |
| 2009 | Didier Drogba |
| 2008 | Emmanuel Adebayor |
| 2007 | Frederic Kanoute |
| 2006 | Didier Drogba |
| 2005 | Samuel Eto’o |
| 2004 | Samuel Eto’o |
| 2003 | Samuel Eto’o |
| 2002 | El Hadji Diouf |
| 2001 | El Hadji Diouf |
| 2000 | Patrick M’Boma |
| 1999 | Nwankwo Kanu |
| 1998 | Mustapha Hadji |
| 1997 | Victor Ikpeba |
| 1996 | Nwankwo Kanu |
| 1995 | George Weah |
| 1994 1993 |
Emmanuel Amuneke
Rahidi Yekini |
| 1992 | Abedi Pele |
CAF African Player of the Year previous winners : (women)
| Year | Winner |
| 2022 | Asisat Oshoala |
| 2019 | Asisat Oshoala |
| 2018 | Thembi Kgatlana |
| 2017 | Asisat Oshoala |
| 2016 | Asisat Oshoala |
| 2015 | Gaelle Enganamouit |
| 2014 | Asisat Oshoala |
| 2013 | (Not awarded) |
| 2012 | Genoveva Anonma |
| 2011 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
| 2010 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
| 2009 | (Not awarded) |
| 2008 | Noko Matlou |
| 2007 | Cynthia Uwak |
| 2006 | Cynthia Uwak |
| 2005 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
| 2004 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
| 2003 | Adjoa Bayor |
| 2002 | Alberta Sackey |
| 2001 | Mercy Akide |
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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