CAF Unveils Redesigned AFCON Man Of The Match Award
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially introduced a redesigned Man of the Match award for the Africa Cup of Nations, adding a modern touch to one of the tournament’s most recognisable individual honours.
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The Man of the Match award has long been a staple of AFCON, celebrating players whose performances define individual games. Over the decades, the honour has gone to some of Africa’s most iconic figures, from Roger Milla’s dazzling displays in the 1980s, to Nwankwo Kanu, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and more recently Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez, all of whom used match-winning performances to stamp their authority on the tournament.
While the previous version of the award was functional, it often drew criticism for its modest design, which many felt did not fully reflect the prestige of Africa’s flagship competition.
The newly unveiled version addresses those concerns, combining elegant aesthetics with symbolic weight, in line with CAF’s broader efforts to modernise its competitions.
The response from fans across the continent has been overwhelmingly positive.
On social media, supporters praised CAF for “finally giving AFCON players an award worthy of their performances,” while others described the redesign as “long overdue.”
Some fans highlighted how standout displays at AFCON often become defining moments in players’ careers, arguing that such performances deserve recognition that feels as significant as the moment itself.
Others compared the new trophy favourably to Man of the Match awards at major global tournaments, noting that AFCON is “rightfully claiming its place among the world’s elite competitions.”
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The introduction of the redesigned award is another step in CAF’s ongoing push to enhance the tournament’s global appeal.
Alongside improvements in broadcasting, branding, and match presentation, the new Man of the Match trophy reinforces AFCON’s reputation as a stage where individual brilliance and collective excellence coexist.
As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations unfolds, the upgraded award is expected to add extra motivation for players eager to leave their mark, not just in the record books, but also through performances that fans will remember long after the final whistle.
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