African Ballon d’Or 2026: Nicolas Pépé Predicts Pape Gueye to Succeed Achraf Hakimi

Nicolas Pépé named Pape Gueye as his favorite for the 2026 African Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony scheduled for December 7 in Lagos. He highlighted Gueye’s performances with Villarreal and the Senegalese national team, including his goal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. Pépé also mentioned Gueye’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup, where he scored against Iraq. Yan Diomandé is also seen as a potential contender for the award.