Rio Olympics bronze-winning captain Mikel Obi, Manchester City star Kelechi Iheanacho, and Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi were not nominated as the BBC announced its shortlist for its African player of the year award, with players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Yaya Toure making up the five-man shortlist.
Borussia Dortmund and Gabon striker Aubameyang are on the shortlist for the fourth consecutive year; Leicester City and Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez have been rewarded for their stellar year with Leicester; and Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure also appears on the list.
The other two players nominated are West Ham/Ghana attacking midfielder Andre Ayew, who won the award in 2011, and Liverpool/ Senegal player Saido Mane. The nomination list was announced during a live broadcast at the BBC’s headquarters in London on Saturday evening. The winner of the 2016 BBC African Footballer of the Year award will be announced on Monday, December 12, and will be decided by fans who can vote from now until November 18.
