The Confederation of African Football, CAF, on Wednesday unveiled the nominees for the 2026 Men's Player of the Year award, with Nigerian stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman surprisingly absent from the shortlist.
Both players played key roles for the Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Morocco, where Nigeria secured a third-place finish.
Lookman scored three goals and provided four assists in six appearances for Nigeria during the tournament.
His impressive performances also earned him a place in the AFCON Team of the Tournament.
Osimhen, meanwhile, finished as Nigeria's leading scorer at the competition with four goals and two assists.
Senegal and Morocco lead the nominations, with three players each making the shortlist.
Senegal's representatives are Sadio Mané, Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye, while Morocco's nominees include Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz and Ismaël Saibari.
Other players named on the shortlist include Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo, DR Congo's Yoane Wissa, Ghana's Antoine Semenyo and South Africa's Teboho Mokoena.
Osimhen, Lookman snubbed as CAF unveils 2026 men's Player of the Year shortlist