Unveiling the 11 Finalists for the Marc-Vivien Foé Award in Ligue 1: Celebrating African Football Excellence
On Tuesday, RFI and France 24 announced the 11 contenders for the prestigious Marc-Vivien Foé Award, which recognizes the standout African player in France’s Ligue 1.
Last season, Chancel Mbemba, the Congolese defender from Olympique de Marseille, claimed this honor.
Since its inception in 2009, the Marc-Vivien Foé Award has been a highly anticipated annual event organized by RFI and France 24, aiming to identify the top African talent competing in Ligue 1.
The judging panel comprises 100 football journalists specializing in both French and African football.
To be eligible for the award, players must have previously represented their national teams and participated in at least 15 Ligue 1 matches during the ongoing season without changing their sporting nationality.
This year’s finalists were unveiled on Tuesday, showcasing the talent and diversity within African football.
The 11 finalists are:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a forward from Gabon playing for Marseille
- Nabil Bentaleb, a midfielder from Algeria representing Lille
- Lamine Camara, a midfielder from Senegal playing for Metz
- Oumar Diakité, an Ivorian forward from Reims
- Amine Gouiri, an Algerian forward representing Rennes
- Achraf Hakimi, a Moroccan defender from PSG
- Chancel Mbemba, a Congolese defender from Marseille
- Youssouf Ndayishimiye, a Burundian midfielder from Nice
- Terem Moffi, a Nigerian forward from Nice
- Moses Simon, a Nigerian forward representing Nantes
- Wilfried Singo, an Ivorian defender from Monaco
The Marc-Vivien Foé Award has seen illustrious winners, from Marouane Chamakh in 2009 with Bordeaux to Chancel Mbemba in 2023 with Marseille.
Notably, Gervinho from Ivory Coast stands out as a two-time winner in 2010 and 2011, showcasing the consistent excellence of African talent in Ligue 1.
Ivory Coast leads with the most winners, followed by Morocco and Nigeria, highlighting the diverse contributions of African players to the French league.
