The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the nominees for the prestigious Africa Player of the Year award, with two Super Eagles stars making the shortlist, Soccernet.ng reports.
Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman and Al Kholood defender William Troost-Ekong have been named among the ten best African players for 2023.
Joining them on the ten-man shortlist are DR Congo’s veteran defender Chancel Mbemba, Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi, and Borussia Dortmund’s prolific striker Serhou Guirassy.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s rising star Simon Adingra, fresh from helping Côte d’Ivoire to a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph, also features alongside Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive centre-back Edmond Tapsoba and Algeria’s talented forward Amine Gouiri.
South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who is also nominated for the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award, earned a place on the list, as well as Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi, who plays for Al Ain FC.
Surprisingly, reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen has not been nominated to defend his title, despite becoming the first Nigerian in 24 years to win the award last year.
Osimhen’s absence comes as a shock, especially after his impressive displays for Napoli/Galatasaray and Nigeria at the AFCON.
Victor Boniface, another Super Eagles standout, also missed out on the top ten despite a stellar debut season with Bayer Leverkusen, where he scored numerous vital goals, helping the club secure a league and cup double.
Boniface was even named Bundesliga Rookie of the Year, but his injury-enforced absence from AFCON 2023 likely affected his chances.
In the absence of Osimhen and Boniface, Lookman will be keen to seize his opportunity.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic year, excelling with Atalanta in Serie A and the Europa League. His standout performances include scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, which helped Atalanta secure the title in May.
Additionally, Lookman was Nigeria’s joint-top scorer at AFCON 2023, where the Super Eagles claimed a silver medal.
Both Lookman and Troost-Ekong were named in the AFCON Team of the Tournament, with Troost-Ekong also being crowned the competition’s Most Valuable Player.
This post was last modified on October 24, 2024 6:27 pm
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