Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet’s impressive individual performances and contributions to Egypt’s national team have earned him a place among the 10 nominees for the 2026 African Player of the Year award, despite a disappointing campaign with Al Ahly.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) included the Egyptian winger on its shortlist for the annual honour, recognising his goalscoring record and performances during the season.
Trezeguet, who has since moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Riyadh, is among the players competing for the award, with the winner due to be announced at the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, 7 December.
His nomination comes after a season in which Al Ahly struggled to secure major silverware. The Egyptian giants won only the Egyptian Super Cup against Zamalek, but Trezeguet’s personal contribution stood out, particularly in front of goal.
The winger made 35 appearances for Al Ahly across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and providing one assist. Those figures helped strengthen his case for recognition, even though his club did not enjoy the success expected of them.
One of the strongest arguments in Trezeguet’s favour was his performance in the CAF Champions League, where he finished as the competition’s leading scorer with six goals.
That achievement came despite Al Ahly’s elimination in the quarter-finals by Tunisia’s Esperance. Trezeguet scored once against the Tunisian side and also found the net against Morocco’s FAR Rabat.
He added two goals apiece against Algeria’s JS Kabylie and Tanzania’s Young Africans, taking his total in the continental competition to six.
His domestic league record was equally notable. Trezeguet scored 11 goals in 21 Egyptian Premier League appearances, finishing third in the competition’s scoring standings.
He achieved that position despite playing fewer matches than Ahmed Yasser Rayyan, who scored 13 goals, and Ali Suleiman, who also registered 11. Both players featured in the relegation group, which had more rounds of matches.
Trezeguet’s performances for Egypt also strengthened his credentials. He helped the national team reach the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they eventually finished fourth.
He was also part of the Egypt squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. During the tournament, he scored in the group-stage victory over New Zealand and provided an assist in the match against Iran.
Despite his individual achievements, Trezeguet faces a difficult challenge in the race for the award. His lack of major honours with Al Ahly could count against him, particularly as several of his competitors enjoyed success with their clubs in continental competitions.
Among the players expected to challenge him are representatives of clubs that won African titles, including South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Algeria’s USM Alger, who lifted the CAF Confederation Cup. Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Shehata of Zamalek is also among the competition.
Trezeguet’s nomination therefore reflects a season in which his personal statistics and international contributions stood out, even as his former club fell short of its major objectives.
