By Akinwale Kasali
For the sixth year running, no Nigerian footballer was significant or outstanding to make the cut for the prestigious Confederation of African Football, CAF, best player of the year.
The last time a Nigerian made the list was in 2013, when former Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi, came second behind Yaya Toure at the Eko Hotel And Suites Convention Hall, Lagos, Nigeria.
Sadly, for the 2019 CAF Awards, no Super Eagles player made the final cut, though, Odion Jude Ighalo, 2019 AFCON tournament top scorer, was nominated to the top 10, likewise, Everton Football Club midfielder, Alex Iwobi. But the duo were dropped.
Liverpool Football Club of England forwards, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Sallah, alongside Manchester City Football Club forward, Riyadh Mahrez are the players contending for this award.
The duo of Sallah and Mane have won treble this year, having won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA World Club Championship, defeating Tottenham Hotspurs 2-0, Chelsea 7-6 after penalties and Flamengo Football Club of Brazil 1-0 respectively.
For Mahrez, he won the domestic treble with Manchester City, winning the Barclays English Premier League, the Carabao Cup (League Cup), the FA Cup and the Charity Shield.
He also inspired the Algerian team, the Desert Warriors, to the 2019 AFCON tournament triumph, scoring a free kick stunner against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Semi final, and an assist for Baghdad Bounedjoh in the final against Mane’s-captained Teranga Lions of Senegal.
In the female category, three- time African Women Footballer of the Year, Barcelona Football Club forward, Asisat Oshoala, made the final cut, as she would be gunning for her third award.
Oshoala has been outstanding for her Club, Barcelona, becoming the first afrivan woman to play in the UEFA Champions League final, and also scoring, despite her club losing 4-1 to Olympique Lyonnais of France.
She was, also, instrumental for her club’s last season, scoring crucial goals that won the League and the Female Copa De La Rey trophy.
In the young player award, Lille Metropole Football Club of France top scorer, Victor Osimhen and his Villarreal Football Club of Spain compatriot, Samuel Chukwueze are been nominated for the award.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Etebo Oghenekaro, Ahmed Musa, to mention a few, have all won this award before.
The duo of Chukwueze and Osimhen top the list this category.
The award ceremony is scheduled for January 7th, 2020.
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