Moroccan fans expressed their surprise at the list of candidates for the “Best Player in Africa 2024” award established by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The list included the exclusion of the Moroccan star Ibrahim DiazThe Spanish striker for Real Madrid.
Candidate selection criteria
Observers expressed surprise at CAF’s decision, noting that the criteria used to determine the list of candidates are vague and raise eyebrows. :
Fans confirmed that the player who was to receive the award was not even on the shortlist.
Diaz’s achievements with Real Madrid
Brahim Diaz was considered one of Real Madrid’s key players last season, even if he was not a permanent starter. He appeared in 44 matches, in which he scored 12 goals and provided 9 assists, which helped the team win the Spanish League and Champions League titles.
His goal against Germany’s Leipzig in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 was a pivotal point in his team’s qualification after a difficult second leg.
Public anger and demands for clarification of standards
A group of Moroccan supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with CAF’s choices, stressing that the Confederation of African Football is exposing itself to embarrassing situations due to incomprehensible decisions.
Some observers have called for the need to clarify the criteria adopted to select candidates for the Best in Africa awards.
They also pointed out that “CAF” is facing a lot of confusion, not only regarding awards, but also in a range of issues related to competitions under its banner.
In a related context, three Arab stars are in the running for the 2024 best African player award, these are the Moroccan duo Achraf Hakimi and Sofiane Rahimi, in addition to the Algerian striker Amine Gouiri.
