LONDON (Reuters) - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced the final list of candidates for this year's award for the best African player.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Mehdi Benatia (Morocco), Calido Coulibaly (Senegal), Sadio Mani (Senegal) and Thomas Barty (Ghana) are competing for the award.
The official website said the list was prepared by a committee of African football experts.
The Authority has opened the door to vote for the public to choose the best of the five, and to close at 20:00 (GMT) on the second of December next.
The vote will be announced in a special program to be broadcast on December 14.
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah won the title last year. Former winners include Jay Jay Okocha, Michael Asen, Didier Drogba, Yehia Toure and Riad Mehrez, who will miss this year.
The Liverpool club site congratulated Salah and Mani for their selection as the selected elite of the prestigious African award.
Sadio Mane and @MoSalah have been nominated for the 2018 African Footballer of the Year award. đź‘Źđź‘Ź # BBCAFOTY pic.twitter.com/rwmekvc19j - Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 17, 2018Sadio Mane and @MoSalah have been nominated for the 2018 African Footballer of the Year award. đź‘Źđź‘Ź # BBCAFOTY pic.twitter.com/rwmekvc19j - Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 17, 2018 Award |
The BBC's profile of selected players includes the most important achievements they have made and their nomination for the award.
Mohammed Salah, 26, has won the English Premier League Golden Boot award, scoring 32 goals last season, scoring 10 goals in the Champions League and scoring only two goals for the Egyptian team at the World Cup.
Mehdi Benatia (31 years): Juventus's heart has won the Italian league title for the fourth time in a row, winning twice with Bayern Munich and with Juventus twice. He also led the Moroccan team that took part in the World Cup in Russia last summer.
Caldou Coulibaly, 27, has played a prominent role in Napoli's competition with Juventus for the Serie A title, scoring a goal for his side to beat Juventus and playing 270 minutes for the World Cup in Russia.
Sadeo Mani (27 years): He was the second scorer for Liverpool in the Champions League last season, with ten goals, including a goal against Real Madrid in the final, and participated in all the matches of Senegal in the World Cup Russia, scored a goal against Japan.
Thomas Barty (25 years): The Ghanaian has imposed himself on the starting line-up of Atletico Madrid, and is one of the leading players in his country.