Mohamed Salah Left Off 2026 African Player of the Year Shortlist

Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has been notably omitted from the 10-player shortlist for the 2026 African Player of the Year award, announced on Wednesday by the Confederation of African Football. The surprising exclusion of the two-time winner highlights a major shift in continental honors, as Morocco and Senegal dominate the nominations with three players each ahead of the ceremony scheduled for December 7 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Salah's absence comes despite his stellar start to the season with Turkish club Trabzonspor. Following his high-profile transfer from Liverpool, where he spent nine successful seasons and secured both the Premier League and the Champions League, the 34-year-old forward has made an immediate impact in the Süper Lig. Through his first ten league appearances, Salah has recorded eight goals and three assists, propelling his club into a serious title contention.

While reports from BBC Arabic indicate that local authorities in Trabzon are working to accelerate a naturalization process to grant Turkish citizenship to Salah and his family—alongside a potential State Medal for Exceptional Devotion recognizing his sports and tourism contributions—official confirmation remains pending. Meanwhile, his on-field production has been vital for manager Thomas Reis, helping Trabzonspor string together five consecutive league victories and climb to third place in the standings.

On the continental awards front, the 2026 shortlist heavily favors players competing in Europe's top leagues. Morocco is represented by Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz, and Bayern Munich forward Ismael Saibari. Senegal's trio features Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, and Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane.

Rounding out the ten-man shortlist are Amad Diallo of Manchester United, Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa, Manchester City attacker Antoine Semenyo, and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena. Hakimi enters the discussion as a leading frontrunner to defend his title after claiming the 2025 honor following a historic campaign with Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite missing out on the CAF recognition, Salah continues to focus on his club commitments in Turkey and European competition. As Trabzonspor prepares for upcoming fixtures against Freiburg and Alanyaspor, the Egyptian forward remains a defining figure in domestic football, even as a new generation of African stars takes center stage for the continent's highest individual accolade.