Boniface, Salah, 3 other football stars surprisingly omitted from CAF's 2024 nominees list

• CAF’s latest award nominee list has sparked controversy due to the absence of key football stars like Victor Boniface and Mohamed Salah
• Despite standout seasons, Boniface and Salah were surprisingly overlooked, alongside other notable players like Nicolas Jackson, Brahim Diaz, and Mohammed Kudus
• Analysts and pundits have questioned CAF’s criteria, especially as these players delivered remarkable performances across various competitions last season

CAF’s latest nominee list has dropped, and it’s sparking more drama than any mid-season transfer saga! Fans were eagerly awaiting names like Victor Boniface and Mohamed Salah to grace the lineup, but the omission of these football icons has left plenty scratching their heads.

With the CAF Awards spotlighting the very best in African football, this year’s list has taken some unexpected turns and some big names are nowhere to be found. 

TheRadar had earlier reported players who made the nominees list. Now, we take a look at stars who many expected but were left out. 

Let’s dive into the snubs that have gotten everyone talking!

5 football stars snubbed by CAF on nominee list

TheRadar has compiled below 5 players CAF did not find worthy to be nominated for this year’s awards:

1. Victor Boniface (Nigeria)

Victor Boniface's absence from the CAF shortlist is a shocker for many fans, given the Nigerian forward’s standout season. As Bayer Leverkusen’s goal machine, Boniface had a massive impact, guiding his team to a domestic double while clinching runner-up in the Europa League after a 3-0 loss to Atalanta. 

Boniface amassed 27 goals and 10 assists in 49 matches across competitions, showcasing his influence on both club and national stages. His accolades were no less impressive. He scored 21 league goals, provided nine assists, lifted both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal trophies, and earned the Bundesliga Rookie and Team of the Season honours. Despite these remarkable achievements, his absence from the CAF nominees has many wondering how he could be overlooked.

2. Nicholas Jackson (Senegal)

Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson was among the unexpected omissions from the CAF African Player of the Year nominees list. The Senegalese striker made a solid impact in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 17 goals and quickly established himself as Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice frontman. Even with the arrival of Enzo Maresca, Jackson has held on to Chelsea’s number nine spot, often favoured over Christopher Nkunku in early season line-ups. 

This season, he has already netted five times in just nine appearances, showing consistency and extending his impressive form from last year.

Despite his vital role in helping Chelsea secure a UEFA Conference League place with a late-season surge, Jackson’s name was absent from the CAF shortlist, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. The 23-year-old's contributions have been notable, leaving many questioning CAF’s rationale behind his exclusion.

3. Brahim Diaz (Morocco)

Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz had a standout season, contributing to the club's success both domestically and in Europe. The Moroccan international, bouncing back from injury, delivered a solid performance, tallying eight goals and seven assists in 31 La Liga matches. 

His influence was crucial to Real Madrid’s triumphs in both La Liga and the Champions League, though his omission from CAF's African Player of the Year nominees is likely because of his absence from the AFCON.

Notably, despite Real Madrid’s historical success, the club has yet to produce a player who has claimed this prestigious award African award.

4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Another huge surprise in the CAF Player of the Year nominations is the absence of Liverpool’s star forward, Mohamed Salah. This marks the first time since 2017 that the Egyptian forward has not featured on the list, a rare occurrence for the two-time CAF award winner. Salah, who clinched the title in both 2017 and 2018, has consistently remained among the top contenders, placing in the top three each year over the past five editions, including a third-place finish in 2023.

In the 2023/24 season, Salah demonstrated remarkable consistency for a player of his age, scoring 25 goals in 44 matches across all competitions. However, his lower impact during the 2023 AFCON campaign with Egypt may have influenced his exclusion from this year’s shortlist. Despite his impressive club statistics, this underperformance at AFCON seems to have played a major role in CAF’s decision to overlook him.

5. Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)

Many had high expectations for Mohammed Kudus to earn a spot among CAF’s top nominees, considering his stellar season both for club and country. 

At West Ham, the attacking midfielder shone, netting eight goals in the Premier League and adding five more in the Europa League during an impressive debut campaign. He also made a notable impact at the 2023 AFCON, scoring twice against Egypt and claiming two Man of the Match awards. 

However, despite these accomplishments, his exclusion from the shortlist likely stems from Ghana’s underwhelming performance at the tournament, which may have dampened Kudus’ chances of making the final cut.

“We will take action”: CAF President confirms consequences for Libya if guilty of charges

Previously, TheRadar reported that Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has announced that a thorough investigation is ongoing regarding the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s recent AFCON qualifier against Libya. 

In his address at the 46th Ordinary General Assembly held in Addis Ababa on October 22, Motsepe mentioned the importance of sportsmanship and fairness in African football, emphasising that CAF would take action if rules were violated in the unfortunate incident.