The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the list of women’s nominees for the annual honors. Several representatives of the Kingdom feature prominently across the top categories.
Continental recognition for national women’s sport reaches a new milestone on the African stage. The Confederation of African Football published the initial shortlist of players and teams selected for the prestigious CAF Awards 2026, whose formal ceremony will take place on 7 December in Lagos. At the top of these distinctions, international defender and Atlas Lionesses vice-captain Hanane Aït El Haj stands out as the sole national representative shortlisted for the African Women’s Player of the Year. This nomination in the premier category rewards the consistency of her performances and follows the continental crown awarded to her teammate Ghizlane Chebbak, who won the title in 2025. Her presence at the highest individual level reflects the rise of the national sporting elite and the quality of the Kingdom’s training structures.
A notable Moroccan presence across all categories
The excellence of national talent is further confirmed through individual selections by position and age group. AS FAR and national team goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi is among the contenders for Goalkeeper of the Year, thanks to her decisive interventions during key continental fixtures. In the youth category, young prospect Kautar Azraf, competing for FC Barcelona, is nominated for Young Player of the Year, symbolizing the valuable contribution of the sporting diaspora. These cross-category nominations highlight the depth of the Moroccan talent pool and the efficiency of identification pathways feeding into professional football networks.
The national team and clubs as drivers of development
Beyond individual achievements, the Moroccan national team confirms its collective standing by securing a place on the nominee list for National Team of the Year. This recognition follows a solid run marked by a fourth-place finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Morocco and historic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Meanwhile, distinctions for club performances will be finalized following the conclusion of the CAF Women’s Champions League currently taking place in Egypt. Highlighting these sporting capabilities supports job creation in technical coaching, boosts the sports economy, and enhances the appeal of national infrastructure to international governing bodies.
