Forward Andre Ayew emerged Ghana’s only candidate as the Confederation of African Football (Caf) released an initial 30-man list to vie for the African Player of the Year at the 2016 edition of the annual Glo-CAF Awards.
The Glo-CAF Awards Gala returns to Nigeria’s capital Abuja, where it has mostly been staged. It has been scheduled for Thursday, 5 January 2017.
Ayew who switched camp from Swansea City to West Ham in the summer earned his place as a result of his impressive performances over the past year for the Welsh club and at the international level with the Black Stars.
Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won the award in 2015 and has been nominated once again. However, four-time winner, Ivorian and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure did not make the list after getting dethroned last year.
English Premier League player of the Year, Riyad Mahrez has also been nominated alongside club teammate, Islam Slimani while the likes of Ahmed Musa, Eric Bailly, Kelechi Iheanacho, Sadio Mane, Samuel Eto’o have all been included the prestigious list of Africa’s best players.
Voting
In view of the Glo-CAF Awards 2016, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has expanded the network for the decision making process with the constitution an Electoral College for the voting process.
The Electoral Colleges are:
1 – Members of the CAF Media Committee
2 – Members of the CAF Technical and Development Committee
3 – Panel of 20 experts (Journalists, TV consultants)
4 – Member Associations (Head Coaches of National Team ‘A’ or National Technical Directors
For the two main awards, African Player of the Year and African Player of the Year –
Based in Africa, all four components of the Electoral College (listed above) will be involved in the selection process which has been classified into two phases.
Colleges 1,2 and Half of 3 will be involved in Phase 1, whilst Colleges 4 and half of 3 for Phase 2.
For the other award categories, only 1, 2 and 3 will take part in the selection of the eventual
winners.
Full list:
Ahmed Musa – Leicester City (England) and Nigeria
Andre Ayew – West Ham (England) and Ghana
Aymen Abdennour – Valencia (Spain) and Tunisia
Benjamin Mounkandjo – Lorient (France) and Cameroon
Cedric Bakambu – Villareal (Spain) and DR Congo
Dennis Onyango – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Uganda
El Arabi Hillel Soudani – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) and Algeria
Eric Bailly – Manchester United (England) and Ivory Coast
Hakim Ziyech – Ajax (Netherlands) and Morocco
Islam Slimani – Leicester City (England) and Algeria
Itumeleng Khune – Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and South Africa
John Mikel Obi – Chelsea (England) and Nigeria
Kalidou Koulibaly – Napoli (Italy) and Senegal
Keegan Dolly – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and South Africa
Kelechi Iheanacho – Manchester City (England) and Nigeria
Khama Billiat – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Zimbabwe
Mbwana Samatta – Genk (Belgium) and Tanzania
Mehdi Benatia – Juventus (Italy) and Morocco
Mohamed El Neny – Arsenal (England) and Egypt
Mohamed Salah – Roma (Italy) and Egypt
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Gabon
Riyad Mahrez – Leicester City (England) and Algeria
Sadio Mane – Liverpool (England) and Senegal
Samuel Eto’o – Antalyaspor (Turkey) and Cameroon
Serge Aurier – PSG (France) and Ivory Coast
Victor Wanyama – Tottenham (England) and Kenya
Wahbi Khazri – Sunderland (England) and Tunisia
William Jebor – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) and Liberia
Yannick Bolasie – Everton (England) and DR Congo
Yao Kouasi Gervais ‘Gervinho’ – Hebei Fortune (China) and Ivory Coast