The 25th edition of the annual CAF Awards will take place Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the International Conference Centre in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
Spotlight on nominees for various categories of the 2016 CAF Awards
Gabonese international and current title holder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will face off against Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez and Senegalese winger Sadio Mane for the 2016 African Player of the Year.
There are other award categories and we highlighted them below.
African Player of the Year
Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)
Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria & Leicester City)
Sadio MANE (Senegal & Liverpool)
African Player of the Year Nominees #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/u6UXwjaA34— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2017
African Player of the Year – Based in Africa
Denis ONYANGO (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Rainford KALABA (Zambia & TP Mazembe)
African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/ySPOXSrzep— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2017
Women’s Player of the Year
Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria & Arsenal Ladies)
Elizabeth ADDO (Ghana & Kvarnsvedensik)
Gabrielle ABOUDI ONGUENE (Cameroon & Rossyanka)
Most Promising Talent
Elia MESCHAK (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City)
Naby KEITA (Guinea & RB Leipzig)
Most Promising Talent award nominees #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/o19qJiwMGz— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2017
Youth Player of the Year
Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal)
Eric AYIAH (Ghana and Charity FC)
Sandra OWUSU-ANSAH (Ghana and Supreme Ladies)
Youth Player of the Year #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/BUnle4fHoA— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2017
Coach of the Year
Florent IBENGE (DR Congo national team)
Pitso MOSIMANE (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Florence OMAGBEMI (Nigeria women’s national team)
Coach of the Year nominees #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/N2GZZQUJ9F— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2017
Club of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns
TP Mazembe
Zesco United
Club of the Year nominees #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/xHfn3iZNLj— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2017
National Team of the Year
DR Congo
Senegal
Uganda
National Team of the Year nominees #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/9fRYLyVQkn— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2017
Women’s National Team of the Year
Cameroon
Nigeria
South Africa
Referee of the Year
Bakary Papa GASSAMA
Ghead Zaglol GRISHA
Malang DIEDHIOU
Football Leader of the Year
Manuel LOPES NASCIMENTO, President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation
Legend Award
Laurent POKOU, Former player of Cote d’Ivoire
Emilienne MBANGO, Former player of Cameroon
Africa Finest XI
Goalkeeper: Denis ONYANGO (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint-Germain), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia & Valencia), Eric BAILLY (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United), Joyce LOMALISA (DR Congo & AS Vita)
Midfielders: Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns), Rainford KALABA (Zambia & TP Mazembe), Keegan DOLLY (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns),
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund), Sadio MANE (Senegal & Liverpool), Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria & Leicester City)
Substitutes: Aymen MATHLOUTHI (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Kalidou KOULIBALY (Senegal & Napoli), Salif COULIBALY (Mali & TP Mazembe), Islam SLIMANI (Algeria & Leicester City), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma), Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City), Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal)