Bayern Munich's Ismael Saibari nominated for African Footballer of the Year award

The 25-year-old Morocco international, who joined Bayern from PSV in summer, is among 10 nominees for the 2026 African Footballer of the Year award.

Bayern Munich attacker Ismael Saibari has been shortlisted for the 2026 African Footballer of the Year award. The Morocco international, who transferred to Munich from PSV Eindhoven in July, is one of 10 players nominated for the continental prize.

Saibari impressed at PSV last season with 19 goals and nine assists as the Dutch club won the Eredivisie title, then contributed three goals in five appearances as Morocco reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals. He has scored three times for Bayern since his arrival but suffered ankle ligament damage in Saturday's 2-2 Klassiker draw with Borussia Dortmund, potentially sidelining him for several months.

If he wins, Saibari would become only the second Moroccan to claim the African Player of the Year award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, following his Atlas Lions teammate Achraf Hakimi's victory last year. The winner is determined by a panel of CAF technical committee members, African media professionals, players and coaches.