The 20-year-old midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough period at FC Nordsjælland before securing a move to Coventry City during the summer, with his performances also earning recognition on the international stage.
Yirenkyi was part of Ghana's squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Panama in the Black Stars' opening match. His contribution to the national team's campaign, combined with his progress at club level, has helped put him in contention for one of African football's leading individual honours.
The nomination is another significant milestone for a player who made a considerable impression in Denmark before moving to English football. His development has attracted attention beyond Europe, with CAF recognising him among the continent's most promising young talents.
However, Yirenkyi faces strong competition. The shortlist includes several players already making their mark at major European clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane, and Real Madrid's Yan Diomande.
The complete list of nominees for the 2026 CAF Young Player of the Year award is:
- Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Christ Inao (Fiorentina)
- Yan Diomande (Real Madrid)
- Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona)
- Caleb Yirenkyi (Coventry City)
- Ismael Kamissoko (Etoiles Mandé)
- Abdellah Ouazane (Ajax)
- Ayoub Bouaddi (Manchester City)
- Ibrahim Mbaye (Aston Villa)
Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco each have two representatives, while Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Mali and Senegal are represented by one player apiece.
The awards ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 7, when the winner will be announced. Yirenkyi's inclusion gives Ghana a contender in a category featuring a strong group of emerging players from across the continent.