Senegal sensation Sadio Mane will face compatriot Edouard Mendy and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah in defense of his CAF Men’s Player of the Year award tonight.
The awards ceremony will be held in Rabat, Morocco.
Both Mane and Mendy picked up personal awards after Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations this year in Cameroon while Egypt captain Mohamed Salah settled for a runners-up medal.
Mane was crowned Africa’s best player back in 2019 after having a wonderful spell with Liverpool in the English Premier League and the Africa Cup of Nations with the Lions of Teranga.
The new Bayern Munich’s forward stands a better opportunity to retain his Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) Player of the Year award after the organisers cut down its shortlist in the men and women’s categories.
Riyad Mahrez, Naby Keita, Vincent Aboubakar, Karl Toko Ekambi, Achraf Hakimi, Sebastien Haller and Kalidou Koulibaly have all been dropped from the initial 10-man long list released over a week ago by CAF.
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala also stands a chance to defend her award after women’s shortlist has also been revealed.
The Africa’s most decorated footballer will face competition from Cameroon forward Ajara Nchout Njoya and Zambia midfielder Grace Chanda to the award.
Barcelona forward Oshoala was named Africa’s best female player in 2019. The ceremony has not been going on since that time because of coronavirus emergence.
Caf, African football’s governing body, has also announced the final lists for other men and women’s categories including Coach, Young Player, Interclub Player, Club, National team and goal of the year awards.
All the winners will be named on Thursday apart from the women’s national team of the year award, which will be announced after the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final on Saturday in Morocco.
Caf awards 2022 nominees
Player of the Year (women): Grace Chanda (Zambia & BIIK Kazygurt), Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon & Inter Milan) and Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona).
Player of the Year (men): Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich), Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool).
Interclub Player of the Year (women): Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes), Andile Dlamini (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bambanani Mbanie (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns).
Interclub Player of the Year (men): Achraf Dari (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club), Aliou Dieng (Mali & Al Ahly), Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt & Al Ahly).
Young Player of the Year (women): Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes), Doris Boaduwaa (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies), Yasmine Zouhir (Morocco & AS Saint-Etienne).
Young Player of the Year (men): Karim Konate (Cote d’Ivoire & ASEC/RB Salzburg), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal & Tottenham Hotspur), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia & Manchester United).
Coach of the Year (women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa), Bruce Mwape (Zambia), Reynald Pedros (Morocco), Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Coach of the Year (men): Aliou Cisse (Senegal), Carlos Queiroz (Egypt), Walid Regragui (Wydad Athletic Club).
Club of the Year (women): AS FAR (Morocco), Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
Club of the Year (men): Al Ahly (Egypt), RS Berkane (Morocco), Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco).
National Team of the Year (men): Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal.
Goal of the Year: Zouhair El Moutaraji (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club), Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi & Orlando Pirates), Pape Ousmane Sakho (Senegal & Simba).
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