Mokoena: CAF Confirms New Awards Date As Sundowns Star Awaits African Football Honour

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena and the other nominees for the prestigious 2026 CAF Player of the Year award now have a confirmed date for one of African football's biggest nights.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 2 December, in Lagos, Nigeria. The event was initially scheduled for 7 December but has now been brought forward by five days.

According to CAF's official announcement, the ceremony will be held at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre. Proceedings are expected to begin at 19:00 Nigerian time.

The announcement is significant for South African football, which has received considerable recognition across several categories following an impressive period for the country's leading teams and players.

Mokoena is among the ten nominees for the Men's Player of the Year award after another influential year for both club and country. The Sundowns midfielder has established himself as an important figure in the team's midfield, contributing with his energy, physical presence, passing ability and eye for goal.

His nomination also comes after Sundowns secured their second CAF Champions League title in May 2026. The Tshwane giants defeated Morocco's AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate in the final, with Mokoena playing an important role in their continental success.

However, the South African international faces strong competition for the individual honour. The shortlist includes reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi, Senegalese star Sadio Mané, Ghana's Antoine Semenyo, Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, DR Congo's Yoane Wissa, and Morocco's Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari.

Senegal's Ismaila Sarr and Pape Gueye complete the ten-player shortlist alongside Mokoena.

South Africa's representation extends beyond the Player of the Year category. Sundowns captain Ronwen Williams has been nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year, while Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau are also recognised in the Interclub Player of the Year category.

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is among the Coach of the Year contenders, while the club itself has been nominated for Club of the Year. Bafana Bafana have also received recognition in the National Team of the Year category.

The 2026 ceremony will celebrate achievements across 18 categories, recognising outstanding performances by players, coaches, clubs and national teams.

CAF has also confirmed that voting will run from 5 to 20 November, involving member associations, clubs, coaches and national team captains.

For Mokoena, the nomination represents another milestone in a career that continues to attract recognition beyond South Africa. Although competition for the continental award is considerable, his inclusion places him among the players who have made a significant impact on African football during the period under review.

South African supporters will now look towards 2 December to discover whether Mokoena and the other local nominees can turn their nominations into major continental honours.

The awards night in Lagos promises to be an important occasion for Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, with South Africa hoping to enjoy a memorable evening on the African football stage.

Source:

https://x.com/Soccer_Laduma/status/2120438934828163108