A few weeks ago, reports from Africa claimed that Alex Iwobi would somehow find himself named on the shortlist for Africa Player of the Year but the full list has now been released and it is Mohamed Elneny representing Arsenal, not the youngster.
At the time, it seemed rather strange that we would see Iwobi included on the list in any capacity, even if it is a 30-man ‘short’ list.
He’s enjoyed a great year given where he was before last season started but it was hard not to think that there had to be at least 30 other African players who would deserve a place on the list.
As it turns out, there are, and one of those is Elneny who has played just 121 minutes for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
The list in full:
- 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 (Ivory Coast & Paris St Germain)
- Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast & Manchester United)
- Gervinho (Ivory Coast & Hebei Fortune)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Roma)
- Mohamed Elneny (Egypt & Arsenal)
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)
- Andre Ayew (Ghana & West Ham)
- Victor Wanyama (Kenya & Tottenham)
- William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club)
- Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus)
- Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)
- Mikel John 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 Sundowns)
Mahrez, Aubameyang and Salah are said to be the favourites for the award.