The CAF Awards 2026 are on the horizon. The race for the African Ballon d'Or has commenced, and predictions are underway. Nicolas Pépé considers Pape Gueye to be the frontrunner for the title.
Who will take over from Achraf Hakimi as the best African player of the year? Nicolas Pépé doesn't seem to be questioning it. The Ivorian forward envisions his club teammate receiving the accolade. Pape Gueye, who scored in the CAN 2025 final against Morocco, is expected to claim the award. His journey and performances during the CAN strongly support the case for the Senegalese left winger.
“He was the best African player of the season in La Liga, he won the CAN, he scored in the final, and he’s been performing well. So, I believe he has a valid claim. If he wins, it won't be undeserved; it will be thoroughly earned,” emphasizes the former Arsenal player in an interview with DAZN.
Nicolas Pépé clarifies the matter further. He notes that he hasn’t had this conversation with his teammate. “We haven’t even talked about it. He doesn’t really discuss that kind of stuff,” he mentions.
