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The Egyptian Mohamed Salah, the Algerian Riyad Mahrez and the Senegalese Sadio Mané. Kai Pfaffenbach, Andrew Yates and Carl Recine / Reuters

The African Football Confederation has given the names of the finalists for its individual trophies rewarding the best players of 2019. Not surprisingly, in men, the title will go either to Mohamed Salah, already crowned in 2017 and 2018, or to Riyad Mahrez , winner in 2016, either at Sadio Mané.

Only a few days left to wait. On January 7, 2020, the African Football Confederation (CAF) will deliver its verdict at the 2019 CAF Awards ceremony to be held in Hurghada, Egypt. And until this day, the choice is narrowing: this Sunday, December 22, CAF delivered the names of the three finalists by category, including that of the African Player of 2019 of course.

They were still ten in the running yesterday. Seven of them were eliminated by voters to keep only the top three candidates. Exit therefore Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Youcef Belaïli, Ismaïl Bennacer, Odion Ighalo, Kalidou Koulibaly, André Onana and Hakim Ziyech. There are only three finalists left: Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah.

🚨 And then there are 3⃣!

🇪🇬 @ MoSalah @ LFC - @Pharaohs

🇩🇿 @ Mahrez22 @ ManCity - @LesVerts

🇸🇳 Sadio Mané @LFC - @FootballSenegal

Who will be crowned the best in Africa on the 7th of January In Hurghada? 👑 pic.twitter.com/mc7o47Bk1j

CAF (@CAF_Online) December 22, 2019

Mané, the favorite

Exceptional under the colors of Liverpool and CAN finalist, Sadio Mané is a favorite. If he could not get on the 2019 Ballon d'Or podium, the Senegalese managed to take 4th place, like Didier Drogba in 2007. He thus finished ahead of Mohamed Salah (5th) and Riyad Mahrez (10th ). The Teranga Lion, 27, is one of the best players in the world today. When he does not stack the goals, he offers his teammates, like Saturday to Roberto Firmino for the coronation goal of the Reds in the Club World Cup against Flamengo (1-0 after extra time). It was also he who caused a penalty in the final of the Champions League against Tottenham (2-0).

Mahrez on the lookout

Named African Player of the Year in 2016 , Riyad Mahrez has strong arguments in his favor. Admittedly, it was not as essential in Manchester City as it was in Leicester City at the time. Not always the owner, the Algerian does very good service to the Skyblues when we call on him. In recent months, Pep Guardiola has also said that Mahrez is a player " incredibly talented " and that he has " something special ". The coach even regretted not being able to offer him more playing time. In 2019, Riyad Mahrez also distinguished himself by winning the CAN with the Fennecs. He also scored a crucial and magnificent goal against Nigeria in the semi-finals.

Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez sent his team to the CAN 2019 final on a direct free kick. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

Salah, the pass of three?

African player of the year 2017 , then of the year 2018 , Mohamed Salah aims for a third consecutive coronation, which only Samuel Eto'o (2003, 2004 and 2005) and Yaya Touré (four coronations, from 2011 to 2014) done so far. The Egyptian scored less than in 2018, but he performed better with his team, which won the UEFA Champions League and the Club World Cup. Mohamed Salah also scored the Reds' first goal in the C1 final against Tottenham (2-0), from a penalty spot. With Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino, the "Pharaoh" forms a first-rate offensive trident.

All finalists

As for footballers, the title of African Player of the Year 2019 will be played between three women who competed in the World Cup in France during the summer. Cameroonian Ajara Nchout, 26, who plays at Valerenga in Norway, is in the running. She was already among the ten finalists for the Puskas prize (which rewards the best goal of the year). She competes with the Nigerian Asisat Oshoala, the formidable striker of FC Barcelona. The last finalist is the South African Thembi Kgatlana, who plays at the Beijing BG Phoenix in China.

The final African Women's Player of the Year shortlist is out!

🇨🇲 @ AjaraNjoya @ ValerengaOslo - @FecafootOfficie

🇳🇬 @ AsisatOshoala @ FCBfemeni - @NGSuper_Falcons

🇿🇦 @ Kgatlanathe1st
Beijing BG Phoenix - @ Banyana_Banyana # CAFAwards2019 🏆 pic.twitter.com/jReVHFtup7

CAF (@CAF_Online) December 22, 2019

The price of the African Interclub Player of the Year, which rewards a player who plays on the African continent, will be disputed between the Tunisian Anice Badri, the Egyptian Tarek Hamed and the Algerian Youcef Belaïli. The first two play Esperance and Zamalek in Egypt respectively in Tunisia. The third, 2019 African champion, evolved at Esperance in 2018-2019 before flying to Saudi Arabia and Al-Ahli at the end of August.

The 2019 African Hope will be either Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria and Villarreal), or Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Borussia Dortmund), or Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and Lille). The title of men's team of the year will go to Algeria, Madagascar or Senegal. For women, it will be played out between Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa.

The Nigerian Victor Osimhen celebrating his first goal with Lille, August 11, 2019 against Nantes. Pascal Rossignol / Reuters

Finally, Djamel Belmadi (Algeria), Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia and Switzerland) and Aliou Cissé (Senegal) are in the running for the title of Best Coach of an African Men's Team, like Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon), Desiree Ellis (South Africa ) and Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria) in the women's teams.

The complete list of finalists (in alphabetical order)

African Player of the Year 2019

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)
Sadio Mané (Senegal & Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

African Player of the Year 2019

Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC)
Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga)
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)

African Interclub Player of the Year 2019

Anice Badri (Tunisia & Hope)
Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Hope / Ahli Jeddah)
Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek)

Best Hope of the Year 2019

Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille)

Coach of the Year 2019 (M)

Djamel Belmadi (Algeria - Algeria)
Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia - Hope)
Aliou Cissé (Senegal - Senegal)

Coach of the Year 2019 (F)

Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria)
Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon)
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Men's National Team of the Year 2019

Algeria
Madagascar
Senegal

2019 National Women's Team of the Year

South Africa
Cameroon
Nigeria