Super Eagles stars, John Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho have been shortlisted for the 2016 African Footballer of the Year Award.
The Nigeria internationals make a long list of players that have been nominated for awards which will be announced on Thursday, January 5, 2017, at the Glo-CAF Awards night in Abuja.
In the year under review, Mikel lead Nigeria’s Dream Team VI to bronze in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, while Musa won the Russian Premier League title with CSKA Moscow.
Iheanacho missed out on the Premier League title with Manchester City but won the League Cup in his first year at in the senior after he gained promotion from the youth side in the summer of 2015.
Holder, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be among the frontrunners for the awards, but four-time winner Yaya Toure has not been shortlisted.
Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang won the accolade in 2015 after a scorching start to the previous season for the Bundesliga club.
The Gabon international beat the likes of Andre Ayew of Ghana and Ivory Coast’s Toure to win the award.
Four-time winner of the award Samuel Eto’o has been included alongside Serge Aurier, Gervinho, Mehdi Benatia and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez who is also favourite has been included alongside his compatriot, Islam Slimani.
Eric Bailly, Mohamed Elneny, Victor Wanyama, Yannick Bolasie, Sadio Mane and Wahbi Khazri are the other stars shortlisted.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate