Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr has emerged as a leading contender for the 2026 African Ballon d’Or, even as confusion persists in Senegal over whether he should be regarded as a continental champion after their Africa Cup of Nations title was handed to Morocco in the boardroom.
Senegalese outlet SeneNews has placed Sarr at the forefront of the race to succeed Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, who won the previous edition of the prestigious African individual award, arguing that the winger now holds “all the cards” to claim the prize.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a standout 2025-26 campaign, scoring 21 goals for Crystal Palace, helping the club secure a historic UEFA Europa Conference League title, and starring for Senegal at the 2026 World Cup.
AFCON title stripped – but Sarr still hailed as ‘African champion’
In its assessment, SeneNews not only promoted Sarr as a favourite for the African Ballon d’Or but also described him as “بطل افريقيا مع السنغال” – “Africa champion with Senegal” – despite the fact that the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has officially transferred the 2025 AFCON title from Senegal to Morocco.
Senegal had initially been crowned champions after defeating Morocco in the final held in Rabat. The trophy was presented to the Teranga Lions, and the triumph was widely celebrated at home and abroad.
However, on 17 March 2026, Caf’s Appeals Committee issued a decisive ruling that upended that result. It deemed Senegal to have withdrawn and therefore forfeited the final, officially recording a 3-0 win in favour of Morocco.
As a consequence, Caf now recognises Morocco as the official winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Senegalese federation, however, has rejected this version of events and has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), keeping the legal dispute alive.
Against this backdrop, domestic media in Senegal continue to reference Sarr and his team-mates as African champions, underlining the disconnect between the Caf ruling and national sentiment.
Goals, trophies and World Cup impact fuel Sarr’s case
Away from the legal wrangling, SeneNews argues that Sarr’s performances on the pitch provide a powerful case in the race for Africa’s top individual honour.
The Crystal Palace forward struck 21 times in all competitions during the 2025-26 season, playing a pivotal role in the club’s run to the Europa Conference League title – the first major European trophy in Palace’s history.
His influence extended to the international stage. At the 2026 World Cup, Sarr produced a series of eye-catching displays and finished as the top-scoring African player at the tournament with four goals.
For many observers, that blend of collective and individual achievement – domestic, European and international – closely mirrors the profile of previous African Ballon d’Or winners.
SeneNews notes that this combination of team success and personal brilliance “usually receives significant recognition when selecting the best player on the continent”.
‘It’s a dream for me’ – Sarr speaks on African Ballon d’Or ambition
Sarr has been open about his desire to join the elite list of African greats who have claimed the Ballon d’Or Afrique.
He has publicly stated: “انه حلم بالنسبة لي ان افوز بالكرة الذهبية الافريقية”.
With voting for the 2026 award still months away, much could yet change in the pecking order. But with a major European trophy, a prolific scoring record and a standout World Cup already on his CV this season, Sarr has firmly placed himself in contention – even as the shadow of the AFCON title controversy continues to hang over Senegal’s golden generation.
