The Manchester City, Chelsea and Leicester City men make up the 30-man pool of players up for the continent's most prestigious solo award
The Confederation of African Football has released the list of the best 30 shortlists for the 2016 African Player of the Year with Kelechi Iheanacho, John Obi Mikel and Ahmed Musa making the cut in roll that has reigning Africa’s best player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is now in line to win a second straight award.
Iheanacho's nomination is recognition of a superb domestic year with Manchester City that saw him score eight goals in 26 Premier League appearances for Manuel Pellegrini's side in debut season, as they missed they English topflight diadem.
For Chelsea’s Mikel, he led the Nigeria U23 team to win the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medal in Brazil – though hasn’t enjoyed enough playing time with the Blues, while Musa’s exploits with CSKA Moscow before joining Leicester City earned him a mention in the shortlist.
Would Antoine Griezmann suit Chelsea or Manchester United?Aubameyang enjoyed a fine campaign at Borussia Dortmund last season, wowing fans with his direct running and lightning pace.
The Gabon international scored 25 Bundesliga goals last term to help Thomas Tuchel’s men to a second-placed finish and the DFB-Pokal final.
The winner of the gong will be announced at a ceremony in Abuja on January 5, 2017.
NOMINEES IN FULL
1. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
2. El Arabi Hillel Soudani (Algeria & Dinamo Zagreb)
3. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)
4. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon & Antalyaspor)
5. Benjamin Mounkandjo (Cameroon & Lorient)
6. Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & PSG)
7. Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United)
8. Yao Kouasi Gervais ‘Gervinho’ (Cote d’Ivoire & Hebei Fortune)
9. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
10. Mohamed El Neny (Egypt & Arsenal)
11. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Dortmund)
12. Andre Ayew (Ghana & West Ham)
13. Victor Wanyama (Kenya & Tottenham)
14. William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club)
15. Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus)
16. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)
17. John Mikel Obi (Nigeria & Chelsea)
18. Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City)
19. Ahmed Musa (Nigeria & Leicester City)
20. Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo & Villareal)
21. Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo & Everton)
22. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
23. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)
24. Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
25. Itumeleng Khune (South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs)
26. Mbwana Samatta (Tanzania & Genk)
27. Aymen Abdennour Tunisia & Valencia)
28. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia & Sunderland)
29. Dennis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
30. Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)
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