Mohamed Salah excluded from CAF African Player of the Year nominations

Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah has been omitted from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) shortlist for the 2026 African Player of the Year award. This marks the third time the player has missed out on the nominations since 2013, following previous absences in 2024.

Despite the exclusion, Salah maintained significant statistical contributions during the 2025-2026 period. At the club level, he recorded 12 goals and 10 assists across approximately 40 matches. On the international stage, he played a pivotal role for the Egyptian national team, scoring four goals during the Africa Cup of Nations and contributing two goals and one assist during the 2026 World Cup, helping Egypt reach the Round of 16 for the first time in the nation's history.