Nigeria’s impressive outing at the World Cup in June didn’t go unnoticed and as a reward for their display few players have been nominated in the latest edition of the CAF awards.
Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo have been nominated alongside 31 others for CAF Player of the Year 2018.
Musa was Nigeria’s key man at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia where he got two goals against Iceland, before the Super Eagles eventually crashed out after losing to Argentina.
Arsenal’s Iwobi and Ighalo also made the cut decided by votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical & Development Committee and half of the 20-member panel of experts.
The Awards Gala, to honour footballers and officials who distinguished themselves during the year under review, will be held on Tuesday, 8 January 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.
Egypt and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah won the accolade, conferred by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), for 2017 after an awe-impressive season for the Pharaohs and the Reds.
NOMINEES IN FULL
AbdelmoumeneDjabou (Algeria & ES Setif)
Ahmed Gomaa (Egypt & El Masry)
Ahmed Musa (Nigeria & Al-Nassr )
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria & Arsenal)
Andre Onana (Cameroon & Ajax)
AnisBadri (Tunisia & Esperance)
Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco &Hebei China Fortune)
Ben Malango (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
Denis Onyango (Uganda &MamelodiSundowns)
Fanev Andriatsima (Madagascar & Clermont Foot)
Franck Kom (Cameroon & Esperance)
Jacinto MuondoDala ‘Gelson’ (Angola &Primeiro de Agosto)
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)
IdrissaGueye (Senegal & Everton)
Ismail Haddad (Morocco &Wydad Athletic Club)
Jean-Marc MakusuMundele (DR Congo & AS Vita)
KalidouKoulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)
Mahmoud Benhalib (Morocco & Raja Club Athletic)
Mehdi Benatia (Morocco &Juventus)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
MoussaMarega (Mali & Porto)
Naby Keita (Guinea & Liverpool)
OdionIghalo (Nigeria & Changchun Yatai, Nigeria)
Percy Tau (South Africa & Union Saint-Gilloise)
Pierre-EmerickAubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)
RiyadMahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
TahaKhenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)
Thomas Partey (Ghana &Atletico Madrid)
WahbiKhazri (Tunisia & Saint-Étienne)
WalidSoliman (Egypt &Ahly)
WilfriedZaha (Cote d’Ivoire & Crystal Palace)
YacineBrahimi (Algeria & Porto)
YoucefBelaili (Algeria & Esperance)
