Kenya and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama is among 30 nominees for the 2016 Caf African Player of the Year award.
Wanyama, who has enjoyed good form with Tottenham Hotspur and has featured prominently for Kenya in African Cup of Nations qualifiers, will battle it out with African stars led by last year’s winner, Gabonese and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang among others.
Wanyama was first nominated for the awards in 2013 then in 2015 but did not make the final three-man list in both occasions.
The Kenyan captain alongside Ugandan Dennis Onyango and Tanzanian Mbwana Samatta are the only players from Eastern Africa in the list.
Jesse Were
Meanwhile, Harambee Stars Striker Jesse Were made it among the nominees for the African Player of the Year based in Africa award.
Were, who plays for Zambian side Zesco United makes the cut in the 25 man list released by the Confederation of African Federation (CAF).
The former Tusker FC player guided Zesco to the semifinals of the CAF Champions League by scoring four goals.
African Player of the Year nominees
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City), El Arabi Hillel Soudani (Algeria & Dinamo Zagreb), Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon & Antalyaspor), Benjamin Mounkandjo (Cameroon & Lorient), Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & PSG), Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester City), Yao Kouasi Gervais ‘Gervinho’ (Cote d’Ivoire & Hebei Fortune), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma), Mohamed El Neny (Egypt & Arsenal), Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Dortmund), Andre Ayew (Ghana & West Ham), Victor Wanyama (Kenya & Tottenham), William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club), Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax), John Mikel Obi (Nigeria & Chelsea), Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City), Ahmed Musa (Nigeria & Leicester City), Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo & Villareal), Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo & Everton), Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli), Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns), Itumeleng Khune (South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs), Mbwana Samatta (Tanzania & Genk),Aymen Abdennour Tunisia & Valencia), Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia & Sunderland), Dennis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns), Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundown
African Player of the Year Based in Africa nominees
Dennis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns), Itumeleng Khune (South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs), Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Joel Kimwaki (DR Congo & TP Mazembe), Joyce Lomalisa (DR Congo & AS Vita), Salif Coulibaly (Mali & TP Mazembe), Ali Gabr (Egypt & Zamalek), Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns), Jackson Mwanza (Zambia & Zesco United), Rainford Kalaba (Zambia & TP Mazembe), Elia Meschak (DR Congo & TP Mazembe), Aymen Hefny (Egypt & Zamalek), Morgan Betorangal (Chad & MO Bejaia), Hlompho Kekana (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns), Hamza Lahmar (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Jesse Were (Kenya & Zesco United), Idris Mbombo (DR Congo & Zesco United), Chisom Chikatara (Nigeria & Wydad Athletic Club), William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club), Reda Hajhouj (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club), Fabrice Nguessi Ondama (Congo & Wydad Athletic Club), Mfon Udon (Nigeria & Enyimba), Bassem Morsi (Egypt & Zamalek), Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns), Yannick Zakri (Cote d’Ivoire & Mamelodi Sundowns).
