Gabonese international and current title holder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been shortlisted by the Confederation of African Football for the 2016 African Player of the Year.
Aubameyang returns for 2016 African Player of the Year facing Mahrez and Mane
The Borussia Dortmund striker is in the top three with Algeria/ Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez and Senegal/ Liverpool winger Sadio Mane, CAF announced on Thursday.
Here are the 3 finalists for African player of the Year award #CAFGloAwards Aubameyang7 Mahrez22 Sadio Mane pic.twitter.com/2R9oPlrnRJ— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 22, 2016
Their selection was as a result of a vote by Head Coaches of national teams, CAF media, technical and football committees and a media expert panel.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Islam Slimani of Algeria were dropped from the final list.
Uganda/ Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Zimbabwea/ Mamelodi Sundowns forward Khama Billiat and Zambia/ TP Mazembe midfilder Rainford Kalaba have also made it in the final list for the Africa-based African Player of the Year.
Denis Onyango, Khama Billiat and Rainford Kalaba are the 3 finalists for African player of the Year based in Africa #GLOCAFAwards pic.twitter.com/LxouIP5fFj— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 22, 2016
The winners will be crowned on January 5, 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria.