Two candidates from Liverpool and one from Manchester City have been nominated for this year’s African Footballer of the year Award, to be decided next month.

The Liverpool stars, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah and Manchester city star,Riyad Mahrez were named on Sunday after being selected by a panel of technical experts from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) plus former players and media.

Senegal talisman, Mane, will be the favourite for the award ahead of his Egyptian club mate after Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League.

However, he faces stiff opposition from Mahrez, who won the English Premier League with Manchester City and also captained Algeria to the Africa Cup of Nations title in mid-year.

The coaches and captains of the 54 African national teams will now vote for the winner, to be announced on Jan. 7 at a ceremony at Hurgada in Egypt.

Salah has been African Footballer of the Year the last two years while Mahrez was the winner in 2016.

Sane was third in 2016 and runner-up to Salah the last two years.

 

NAN