Bayern’s rising star Ismael Saibari lands on the 2026 African Footballer of the Year shortlist.
The 25‑year‑old Moroccan, who arrived in Munich last summer, is among ten nominees for the continental honour.
He tallied 19 goals and nine assists for PSV Eindhoven en route to the Eredivisie crown, then netted three times in five games as Morocco reached the World Cup 2026 quarter‑finals.
Since his July move, Saibari has scored three times for Bayern, but an ankle ligament sprain in Saturday’s 2‑2 Klassiker with Dortmund may sideline him for months.
He could become only the second Moroccan to capture the award since Mustapha Hadji’s 1998 triumph, following teammate Achraf Hakimi’s win last season.
A panel of CAF technical committee members, African media, players and coaches will pick the winner. In my view, this diverse jury adds real credibility to the prize.
Former Bayern forward and past winner Sadio Mané, now with Al‑Nassr, also appears on this year’s list.