The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday a list of 30 nominees for the 2019 African Player of the Year award, which will be shortened down to three competing for the title.
Egyptian internationals Mohamed Salah, Liverpool striker, and Mahmoud Trezeguet, Aston Villa player, made it onto the list.
Your African Player of the Year Nominees 🌍🏅
Who'll win the prestigious award? 🏆 #CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/vRhPh3IAz7
— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 24, 2019
Competitors to Salah and Trezeguet include Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Manchester City), Youcef Belaili (Algeria and Ahli Jeddah), Baghdad Bounedjah (Algeria and Al-Sadd), Ismail Bennacer (Algeria & AC Milan), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Borussia Dortmund), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Ajax), Ferjani Sassi (Tunisia and Zamalek), and Taha Khenissi (Tunisia and Esperance).
The list also includes Sadio Mane (Senegal and Liverpool), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon and Arsenal), Thomas Teye Partey (Ghana and Atlético Madrid), and Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal and Napoli).
The CAF Awards feature several categories for men’s and women’s football besides the African Player of the Year, such as: Coach of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, National Team of the Year, Goal of the Year, Africa Finest XI, Federation of the Year, and several new award categories which recognize exceptional contributions towards African football and inspiring individuals.
The 28th edition of the CAF’s annual football awards will take place on January 7, 2020 at Citadel Azure in Hurghada, Egypt, according to a statement from the CAF on Sunday.
The CAF awards celebrate African footballers and officials who have distinguished themselves this year. The list of nominees is compiled by a panel of media and technical professionals, the CAF said.
Salah won the African Player of the Year award two times in 2018 and 2017.
