The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the final shortlist for various awards ahead of tomorrow's ceremony in Morroco as it is making its return for the first time since January 2020 with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Asisat Oshoala making the final cut in respective categories.
Egypt and Liverpool football club (LFC) forward, Mohamed Salah, alongside former Reds teammate, Sadio Mane who now plies his trade at Bayern Munich, and fellow Senegalese and Chelsea shot-stopper Edouard Mendy have made the final three, shortlisted for the CAF men's player of the year award; while Nigeria and FC Barcelona forward, Asisat Oshoala, Inter Milan Women and Cameroon forward, Ajara Nchout, and Grace Chanda, who plays as a midfielder for both ZESCO United FC and the Zambia women's national team made the final shortlist in the women category.
Salah and Mane have dominated this award for the last four (4) years, with Salah claiming two (2) of the last four (4), while Mane won one (1). Mane will be appearing in his fifth (5th) award after first appearing in 2016 when he lost to Riyad Mahrez, while the duo of Salah and Mane will be making their fourth (4th) appearance, with the latter being touted most likely to win.
Nigeria and Super Falcons have dominated the CAF feminine both in the game and award recipient. The nine (9) times African champions have won this individual award more than eleven (11) times, with Perpetua Nkwocha and Asisat Oshoala claiming four (4) each, totalling eight (8).
Oshoala will be looking forward to her record of fifth (5th) award, however, she will likely have to see off the challenge of Ajara Nchout Njoya and Grace Chanda.
Below are the Shortlist for each Category
Player of the Year (Men):
Edouard Mendy
Mohamed Salah
Sadio Mane
Interclub Player of the Year:
Achraf Dari (Wydad)
Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly)
Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly)
Player of the Year (Women):
Ajara Nchout Njoya
Asisat Oshoala
Grace Chanda
Goal of the Year:
Gabadinho Mhango
Pape Ousmane Sakho
Zouhair El Moutaraji
Young Player of the Year:
Hannibal Mejbri (Manchester United)
Karim Konate (RB Salzburg)
Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur)
Coach of the Year:
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Carlos Queiroz (Egypt)
Walid Regragui (Wydad)
Club of the Year (Men)
Al Ahly
RS Berkane
Wydad
National Team of the Year:
Cameroon
Egypt
Senegal
