CAF Awards: the royal road for Ismaïla Sarr?

At 28 years old, Ismaïla Sarr has achieved the best season of his professional career. Exceptional performances that could lead him to victory at the CAF Awards 2026.

A historic season with Crystal Palace

Both individually and collectively, Ismaïla Sarr enjoyed an outstanding season with Crystal Palace. The Senegalese international right winger was the driving force behind the Eagles' attack. He played a major role in his club's victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League, the team’s first ever continental trophy.

Individually, Sarr was a revelation. The Senegalese international played in 42 matches in all competitions, starting 37 of them, scoring 20 goals and providing one assist. In the Premier League, the 28-year-old scored 9 goals and delivered one assist in 28 appearances. He finished as top scorer in the UEFA Europa Conference League with 9 goals in 13 matches. In the League Cup, he played one match and scored twice.

Excellent individual statistics, combined with Senegal’s run in the last Africa Cup of Nations, could weigh in his favor at the CAF Awards 2026.

Ismaïla Sarr, top African scorer at the 2026 World Cup

Ismaïla Sarr’s fine performances did not stop with Crystal Palace. He proved his excellent form with Senegal at the 2026 World Cup. Although the Lions experienced a disappointing tournament, exiting in the round of 16, the player managed to stand out. With 4 goals, he was the top African scorer in the competition.

Goalless against France on the first matchday, Ismaïla Sarr redeemed himself by scoring a brace against Norway in the 3-2 defeat. In the third match in Group I, the former Stade Rennais player contributed to the attacking festival (5-0) against Iraq with a goal. Against Belgium in the round of 16, he scored one of the best goals of the tournament. Set up by Moussa Niakhaté, he managed to find the balance between two Belgian defenders to control the ball and slot it past Thibaut Courtois.

After El-Hadji Diouf and Sadio Mané, Sarr could become the third Senegalese player to win the African Player of the Year trophy at the CAF Awards. In any case, the native of Saint-Louis has everything it takes to stake a claim for this prestigious title.