The Confederation of African Football has announced the top 10 shortlists for the 2018 African Player of the Year with Ahmed Musa not making the cut.
Alex Iwobi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Sadio Mane made the cut decided by votes from the members of the Caf Media Committee, Caf Technical & Development Committee and half of the 20-member panel of experts.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah won the accolade for 2017 after a sizzling season for the English Premier League side.
Without a doubt, Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango will be named in the CAF best XI after making the final ten-man shortlist for the African player of the year.
The Ugandan and Mamemlodi Sundowns keeper has had a stellar year where he helped Uganda to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of the year without conceding a goal. He also guided Sundowns to their eighth title in the Premier Soccer League.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah won the accolade last year after a stellar campaign while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became the first player from Gabon to win the award in 2015.
CAF also announced the final nominees for their other awards categories:
Youth Player of the Year
1. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmunmd)
2. Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast & AC Milan)
3. Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria & Leicester City)
Men’s Coach of the Year
1. Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
2. Herve Renard (Morocco)
3. Moine Chaabani (Esperance)
Men’s National Team of the Year
1. Madagascar
2. Mauritania
3. Uganda
The Awards Gala will take place on Tuesday, 8 January 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.