Morocco to Host 2024 CAF Awards: Celebrating African Football Excellence

Friday 18 October 2024 - 10:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco to Host 2024 CAF Awards: Celebrating African Football Excellence

Morocco is poised to host the esteemed CAF Awards for the third consecutive year on December 16, 2024. This prestigious event recognizes the outstanding achievements in African football and will take place after successful ceremonies held in 2022 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora and 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently confirmed the event's location, although the specific venue for this year's ceremony remains undisclosed. The decision to designate Morocco as the host was made by the CAF Executive Committee, as reported by local media.

The awards will celebrate remarkable performances in club and national team competitions spanning from September 2023 to June 2024. Established in 2000 and often referred to as the African Ballon d'Or, the CAF Awards honor the finest players and contributors to African football. Categories include the highly coveted African Player of the Year, awarded annually since 1992, with Ghana’s Abedi Pele as the inaugural recipient.

In addition to the African Player of the Year, other prestigious accolades will be presented, such as African Women’s Player of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Club of the Year.

The previous ceremony in 2023 was particularly successful for Moroccan football, with the Atlas Lions recognized as the Best National Team, Walid Regragui named Best Coach, Fatima Tagnaout awarded Best Women’s Interclubs Player, Nesryne El Chad honored as Young Female Player of the Year, and Yassine Bounou chosen as Goalkeeper of the Year.

Furthermore, Morocco is set to host the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League from November 9 to 23, along with the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), marking the third occasion the country has been entrusted with organizing this continental tournament. These events further reinforce Morocco’s status as a premier destination for football in Africa, showcasing the nation’s commitment to advancing the sport on the continent.