Hamza Abdelkarim Nominated for CAF Young Player of the Year Award
FC Barcelona’s rising star, Hamza Abdelkarim, has received a nomination for the Confederations of African Football’s (CAF) Young Player of the Year award for 2026. The Egyptian striker is among the final ten candidates for this esteemed accolade, standing alongside other promising African talents, including Ayyoub Bouaddi from Manchester City.
Recognition for Hamza’s Growth
Abdelkarim, aged 18, joined FC Barcelona earlier this year in February on loan from Al-Ahly until the conclusion of the season. He shone during the latter half of the previous season while playing for the club’s Juvenil A (U19) team, impressively scoring six goals in just nine league matches.
This strong performance led the Blaugrana to exercise the permanent purchase option in his loan agreement, securing his services for the club during the summer transfer window. His progress continued as he made his national team debut for Egypt and represented the country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Since his transfer, Hamza has integrated into the first-team setup under coach Hansi Flick and stood out in pre-season, netting four goals. Although playing time has been limited as the current season commenced, the teenage forward remains highly regarded within the club.
Abdelkarim has played a mere 12 minutes for the first team in the 2026/27 season, alongside scoring one goal in his solitary appearance for Barça Atletic.
Other Nominees
Due to his achievements with Barcelona and the Egyptian national team, Hamza earned a spot on the CAF Young Player of the Year shortlist for 2026.
He will vie for the prestigious award against several notable contenders, including Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande, Manchester City’s Bouaddi, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane. Additional nominees include Christ Inao from Fiorentina, Caleb Yirenkyi of Coventry City, Ismael Kamissoko of Academia Etoiles du Mandé, Ajax’s Abdellah Ouazane, and Aston Villa’s Ibrahim Mbaye.
