• Obi
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the top five shortlists for the 2016 African Player of the Year award with the Super Eagles trio of Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho not making the cut.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Islam Slimani made the top five decided by votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical & Development Committee and half of the 20-member panel of experts, Goal reports.
Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang won the 2015 award after a sizzling start to the previous season for the Bundesliga club.
In the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) category, Dennis Onyango, Hlompho Kekana, Keegan Dolly and Khama Billiat from the 2016 African Champions League winning side, Mamelodi Sundowns, made the mark with T.P Mazembe’s Rainford Kabala completing the list.
The winners will be decided by votes from the head coaches and Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF.
The Glo/CAF awards gala night will take place on January 5, 2017 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.
