Despite the disappointment of losing the 2021 African Cup of Nations, Egyptian star, Mohamed Salah, is once again leading the a 10-man list for the prestigious African Player of the Year nomination released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday
The Liverpool star and his former team mate Mane who will don the Bayern Munich shirt next season lead a strong field which include the highest goal scorer at the 2021 Afcon, Vincent Abubakar of Cameroon, Royad Marhez of Algeria, Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal, as well as Chelsea and Senegalese goalkeeper,
Edouard Mendy, among others.
The CAF Player of the Year award which could not hold since 2019 since the outbreak of the COVID-19 will hold in Rabat, Morocco, on July 29, after the selection process carried out by a judging panel made up of members of CAF’s technical committee, coaches and captains of Africa’s 54 national teams and selected African football journalists.
Mane won the last award in 2019 and indications are pointing towards him retaining the crown after he led Senegal to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations title and qualification to the World Cup in Qatar, both at Egypt’s expense.
Salah won the award in 2017 and 2018 while Mahrez won in 2016.
The full nominee list include:
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Sebastien Haller (Ivory Coast)
Naby Keita (Guinea)
Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Edouard Mendy (Senegal)
Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon)