Uganda and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango is among last five nominees for African Player of the Year based in Africa award.
His teammates at the South African side, whom they conquered Africa with this year – winning the prestigious Champions League, Khama Billiat, Keegan Dolly and Hlompho Kekana have also made the final cut unvailed Tuesday 22.
Zambian skipper and TP Mazembe forward Rainford Kalaba completes the list of best five.
Onyango has however missed out on the African Player of the Year category – dominated by players plying their trade outside Africa.
They include the current holder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borrusia Dortmund), Algeria and Leicester City deadly duo, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani and Mohamed Sarah (Egypt & Roma).
“For the final phase, votes from the Head Coaches/Technical Directors of the 54 National Associations affiliated to CAF plus Associate Members, Reunion Island and Zanzibar, together with the other half of the 20-member Panel of Experts (10 persons) will be counted towards the determination of the eventual winners,” a statement from CAF explained.
The CAF Awards will take place Thursday, January 5, 2017 Abuja, Nigeria.
For the African Player of the Year, they are;
1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borrusia Dortmund)
2. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
3. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
5. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)
For the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa), the top five are;
1. Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns & Zimbabwe)
2. Keegan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
3. Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe & Zambia)
4. Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
5. Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns & Uganda)
