The African Player of the Year list of finalists has officially been announced today Thursday October 24, 2024 and it has sparked a huge discussion in the world of football.
Despite the announcement normally brings excitement this year’s list has surprised many fans as some of the continent’s biggest names have been left out.
Among the notable absentees are Liverpool’s talismanic forward Mohamed Salah, West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus, Galatasaray prolific striker Victor Osimhen, Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface, and Chelsea’s rising talent Nico Jackson.
The aforementioned players have had standout performances in their respective clubs, contributing to their teams’ successes in various competitions.
Mo Salah who is considered to be one of Africa’s finest footballers of all time, had another strong season with Liverpool, was missing his place despite being among the elite attackers in Europe.
Similarly, Osimhen, who had a successful career at Napoli and excelled at the African Cup of Nations 2024 with Nigeria before joining Galatasaray this season, was left off the final roster.
Kudus’ influential role for the current West Ham United squad, where he’s proving his attacking prowess, and Brahim Díaz’s key performances for AC Milan, particularly in European competitions, were also left out despite having a standout performances.
Victor Boniface, who has been in stellar form for Bayer Leverkusen, Nico Jackson, who has impressed at Chelsea with his pace and versatility, also failed to appear on the final list, especially despite their contributions on both the domestic and international stages.
Their omission has left many fans questioning the criteria behind the selections.
Despite these notable exclusions, the finalists who made the cut are deserving in their own right.
This year’s list included Nigerian players Ademola Lookman (Atlanta) and William Troost Ekong (Al-Khood), as well as Brighton & Hove Albion forward Simon Adingra.
The African Player of the Year award remains one of the most prestigious individual honors in football, celebrating the immense talent and impact of African players across the globe.
The omission of such high-profile names only adds to the intrigue and debate surrounding this year’s awards, as football fans now eagerly await the winner’s announcement.
See CAF Men’s African Player of the Year finalists below
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Amine Gouri (Algeria)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso)
Chancel Mbemba (Congo)
Soufiane Rahimi (Morocoo)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)
With the competition heating up, it’s clear that African football continues to produce world-class talents, even if some of its brightest stars are not always recognized.
Meanwhile, the CAF 2024 African Player of the Year event will be held in the gorgeous city of Marrakech, Morocco, and the winner will be named on December 16, 2024.
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SOURCE: hellovybes.com
