African Golden Ball: Morocco to host CAF Awards 2024
Morocco will host the CAF Awards for the third consecutive year on December 16, following the successful editions of 2022 and 2023 in Marrakech.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony will take place on December 16 in Morocco. This key event in African football, which honors the most outstanding players and personalities on the continent, will once again be organized in the Kingdom, confirming its status as a favored host for major sporting events.
After the 2022 and 2023 editions, held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora and the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech respectively, Morocco reaffirms its commitment to promoting African sports. While the exact venue for the 2024 ceremony is yet to be determined, this new edition promises to live up to its predecessors. The decision to host the event in Morocco was confirmed by the CAF Executive Committee, as reported by several local media outlets.
The CAF Awards, often compared to the European Ballon d’Or, were established in 2000 and celebrate the most remarkable performances in club and national team competitions over the period from September 2023 to June 2024. Among the most anticipated awards is the prestigious African Player of the Year title, awarded annually since 1992, with Ghanaian Abedi Pelé being the first recipient.
In addition to this iconic trophy, the ceremony features a wide range of awards to honor African football talent in all its forms. The awards include African Women’s Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and titles for Coach of the Year and Club of the Year, all to be presented during this gala evening.
The 2023 edition particularly highlighted the achievements of Moroccan football. The Atlas Lions were crowned Best National Team, while Walid Regragui was named Best Coach. Fatima Tagnaout, Nesryne El Chad, and Yassine Bounou also shone, winning the titles of Best Female Club Player, Young Player of the Year, and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively.
Alongside this prestigious ceremony, Morocco continues to assert its leadership in African football. The country will host the CAF Women’s Champions League in November 2024, as well as the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2026. This will be the third time the Kingdom has hosted this continental tournament, following the editions in 2022 and 2023.
