Confederation of African football, CAF, has announced the five-man shortlist for this year’s Glo-CAF Africa Player of the Year award.
The top five candidates were selected based on votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical & Development Committee and ten members out of the 20-member Panel of Experts.
Players who made the top five lists for the 2016 African Player of the Year are:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Riyad Mahrez
Sadio Mane
Mohamed Salah
Islam Slimani
For players based in Africa, the top five contesting for the African Player of the Year are:
Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns & Zimbabwe)
Keegan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe & Zambia)
Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns & Uganda)
The final phase of voting will include Head Coaches and Technical Directors of the 54 National Associations affiliated to CAF plus Associate Members, Reunion Island and Zanzibar, together with the other half of the 20-member Panel of Experts.
This voting phase will determine the eventual winner of the 2016 African Player of the Year.
The main event will be held on January 5, 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Player Profile
Islam Slimani
Country: Algeria
Born: 18 June 1988
Position: Forward
Club: Leicester City (England)
After scoring 31 goals in all competitions for Sporting Lisbon last season, Slimani joined English Champions, Leicester City, for a report club record 28 Million Pounds. The Algerian talisman started his career with the Foxes with three goals in his first five games and has become one of Claudio Ranieri’s side men to watch. Slimani netted four times as Algeria qualified for the Total Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017, unbeaten in six matches. The 28-year old is a key figure for ‘Les Fennecs’ in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualfiers.
Mohamed Salah
Country: Egypt
Born: 15 June 1992
Position: Forward
Club: AS Roma (Italy)
After a loan spell that saw him named AS Roma Player of the season, Salah made his move permanent last summer. The Egyptian scored 14 goals in the Serie A last season, finishing fourth amongst the top scorers. He started the current season on a high scoring eight goals in 11 games, and is regarded as the engine of the Roma side. Moreover, Salah scored five goals in six games for the Egyptian national team in 2016, to take his tally to 27 for the national team. He led the Pharaohs charge to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2010. As captain of the Pharaohs, he has scored twice in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers as Egypt sit atop the standings of Group E after two matches.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Country: Gabon
Born: 18 June 1989
Position: Forward
Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Reigning Glo-CAF African Player of the Year, Aubameyang had a stellar year that gives him yet another shot at the prestigious individual prize in African football. He was named Bundesliga Player of the Year and ended the season with 25 goals, five shy of top scorer Robert Lewandoski. For the current season, he has been consistent firing from all angles from the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and his national team. Also, a regular for ‘Les Pantheres’ in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers, and look set power them to victory at next year’s Total Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
Riyad Mahrez
Country: Algeria
Born: 21 February 1991
Position: Midfielder
Club: Leicester City (England)
Algerian dribbling wizard, Mahrez had an eventful year to remember. He was one of the key actors as Leicester City produced the shocker of the year to win the first ever Premier League title, scoring 17 goals in the process. Unsurprisingly, he was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year becoming the first African to win that accolade. Mahrez has also started his side’s debut season in the Champions League with a blast, scoring 4 goals in his first five games. With the national team, he was influential as ‘Les Fennecs’ qualified for the Total Africa Cup of Nations with an unbeaten run, with two goals to show. He is also a regular for his side in the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
Sadio Mane
Country: Senegal
Born: 10 April 1992
Position: Forward
Club: Liverpool FC (England)
After finishing last season as Southampton top scorer, Mane joined English giants Liverpool FC for a record 40 million euros, a figure that makes him the most expensive African player in history. After only few months, he has established himself as a cult hero amongst the Anfield faithful thanks to series of eye-popping performances plus six goals so far. Mane scored thrice as the Teranga Lions won all six matches in the journey to the finals of the Total Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017. He is also a key figure for Senegal’s run in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers.
