Ghanaian duo of Mohammed Kudus and Ernest Nuamah, who graduated from the Right to Dream Academy have been nominated for 2023 CAF awards.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the list for the upcoming award on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 with Kudus and Nuamah earning a place in both Player of the Year and the Young of Player of the Year awards respectively.
Kudus, who plies his trade for West Ham United is one of the only two Ghanaians to have made the 30-man shortlist for the Player of the Year award.
The Black Stars midfielder has been recognized for his outstanding performance for the club and country between November 2022 and September 2023 for both club and country.
Kudus enjoyed an amazing campaign last term, racking up 18 goals in all competitions for Ajax last season. His top performance did not go unnoticed as he secured a big money move in the last transfer window to join Premier League side West Ham United.
The former FC Nordjaelland star also contributed immensely to the Black Stars during the 202 World Cup tournament in Qatar. Despite Ghana’s early exit, Kudus scored two goals and provided one assist in the three games he played.
On the other hand, Ernest Nuamah is in contention for the Young Player of the Year award for his outstanding performance last season and the current one.
The Black Stars winger will have to beat off competition from Alio (Senegal), Souleymane, Gift Orban (Nigeria), Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco), Pape Diop (Senegal), Papa Amadou Diallo), Lamine Camara (Senegal), Amara Diuf (Senegal), and Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso).
The 20-yearold gained prominence during his first full season in European football with Nordsjaelland last season, where he scooped three prestigious awards.
He bagged the Young Player of the Year, Best Player for Spring (chosen by coaches), and Player of the Season (selected by fellow players) in the Danish top-flight last campaign.
The highly-rated attacker racked up 15 goals and provided 4 assists in 34 games for Nordjaelland. His impressive performance did not go unnoticed as he secured a big money move to French giants, Olympique Lyon in the summer window.
Nuamah made his debut for the Black Stars in June, coming on as a substitute when Ghana played Madagascar in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. He has since established himself as a regular, scoring three goals for the national team.
He also showcased his skills at the U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, contributing a goal in three games.
Per statement released by CAF, the ceremony will be held on Monday, December 11, 2023, in the city of Marrakesh, Morocco.