Despite losing their respective CAF finals, Mandla Ncikazi and Pitso Mosimane have made the nomination lists for this year’s awards.
Ncikazi, who guided Orlando Pirates to the Confederation Cup final before losing to RS Berkane of Morocco on penalties, was nominated for the men’s Coach of the Year award alongside Mosimane, who saw Al Ahly lose to Wydad Casablanca in the Champions League.
The two South African coaches were nominated alongside Carlos Quieroz (Egypt), Florent Ibenge (RS Berkane), Vahid Halihodzic (Morocco), Walid Regragui (Wydad) and Aliou Cisse (Senegal).
Other coaches on the nomination lists are Kamou Malo (Burkina Faso), Amir Abdou (Comoros) and Tom Saintfiet (Gambia).
Mosimane’s 2-0 defeat to Wydad saw him fall short of becoming the only coach to win the Champions League title three times in a row and parted ways with the Red Devils after that.
Ncikazi was the co-coach along with Fadlu Davids at the Buccaneers but he was nominated alone due to CAF rules on coaching licences as he is recognised as the head coach.
Meanwhile, Pirates defender Bandile Shandu and midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch were nominated for the Interclub Player of the Year award alongside Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile and Ahly’s Percy Tau.
Shandu was impressive in the Confederation Cup as he finished as Pirates' top goalscorer with four goals in 12 appearances plus an assist. Lorch also played a role in the Pirates' run in the competition, while Shalulile led Masandawana’s attack in the Champions League where they were knocked out in the quarterfinal stage.
Tau helped Ahly reach the Champions League final scoring three goals in the process. He stole the show when the Red Devils trounced ES Setif 4-0 in the semifinal first leg in Cairo when he netted twice and created two assists.
They were nominated alongside Riad Benayad, Tiago Azulao, Karim Konate, Ali Maaloul, Aliou Dieng, Achraf Dari, Morlaye Sylla, Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed El Shenawy, Yahya Jabrane, Zouhair El Moutara, Mouhcine Moutouali, Issoufou Dayo, Youssou El Fahli, Mohamed Ali Romdhane, and Victorien Adebayor.
Pirates have also been nominated for the Team of the Year alongside Wydad, Berkane, Ahly and Petro de Luanda.
The awards ceremony, which is set to be held on July 21 in Rabat, Morocco, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will return for the first time since 2019.
It will be held ahead of the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco starting tomorrow until July 23.
Pitso, Ncikazi in line for top CAF awards
Lorch, Shalulile, Tau also in running for players' honours
Despite losing their respective CAF finals, Mandla Ncikazi and Pitso Mosimane have made the nomination lists for this year’s awards.
Ncikazi, who guided Orlando Pirates to the Confederation Cup final before losing to RS Berkane of Morocco on penalties, was nominated for the men’s Coach of the Year award alongside Mosimane, who saw Al Ahly lose to Wydad Casablanca in the Champions League.
The two South African coaches were nominated alongside Carlos Quieroz (Egypt), Florent Ibenge (RS Berkane), Vahid Halihodzic (Morocco), Walid Regragui (Wydad) and Aliou Cisse (Senegal).
Other coaches on the nomination lists are Kamou Malo (Burkina Faso), Amir Abdou (Comoros) and Tom Saintfiet (Gambia).
Mosimane’s 2-0 defeat to Wydad saw him fall short of becoming the only coach to win the Champions League title three times in a row and parted ways with the Red Devils after that.
Ncikazi was the co-coach along with Fadlu Davids at the Buccaneers but he was nominated alone due to CAF rules on coaching licences as he is recognised as the head coach.
Meanwhile, Pirates defender Bandile Shandu and midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch were nominated for the Interclub Player of the Year award alongside Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile and Ahly’s Percy Tau.
Shandu was impressive in the Confederation Cup as he finished as Pirates' top goalscorer with four goals in 12 appearances plus an assist. Lorch also played a role in the Pirates' run in the competition, while Shalulile led Masandawana’s attack in the Champions League where they were knocked out in the quarterfinal stage.
Tau helped Ahly reach the Champions League final scoring three goals in the process. He stole the show when the Red Devils trounced ES Setif 4-0 in the semifinal first leg in Cairo when he netted twice and created two assists.
They were nominated alongside Riad Benayad, Tiago Azulao, Karim Konate, Ali Maaloul, Aliou Dieng, Achraf Dari, Morlaye Sylla, Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed El Shenawy, Yahya Jabrane, Zouhair El Moutara, Mouhcine Moutouali, Issoufou Dayo, Youssou El Fahli, Mohamed Ali Romdhane, and Victorien Adebayor.
Pirates have also been nominated for the Team of the Year alongside Wydad, Berkane, Ahly and Petro de Luanda.
The awards ceremony, which is set to be held on July 21 in Rabat, Morocco, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will return for the first time since 2019.
It will be held ahead of the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco starting tomorrow until July 23.