Thomas Partey is the only Ghanaian in an initial nominees list for the African Player of the Year at the upcoming 2018 Caf Awards.
The Awards Gala, to honour footballers and officials who distinguished themselves during the year under review, is scheduled for Tuesday, 8 January 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.
In an announcement Friday, the Atletico Madrid midfielder emerged among thirty-four (34) players and 15 women players listed for the flagship awards; Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year based on the performance of the players during the year.
Despite his bit-part role at club level, Partey has always distinguished himself whenever called upon by manager Diego Simeone and is becoming known for trademark long range goals. He has also become a mainstay in the Ghana national team set-up, going on to captain the Black Stars a few times over the period.
Caf said: “The winners for the African Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year will be decided by the following:
1. CAF Technical & Development Committee
2. Media Experts, Legends, Coaches of the quarter-finalists of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup
3. Coaches and Captains of the national teams of the 54 Member Associations.
Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who is the reigning African Player of the Year, has been nominated once again likewise last year’s runner-ups Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
See full list of Nominees for African Player of the Year below:
- Abdelmoumene Djabou (Algeria & ES Setif)
- Ahmed Gomaa (Egypt & El Masry)
- Ahmed Musa (Nigeria & Al-Nassr )
- Alex Iwobi (Nigeria & Arsenal)
- Andre Onana (Cameroon & Ajax)
- Anis Badri (Tunisia & Esperance)
- Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco & Hebei China Fortune)
- Ben Malango (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
- Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Fanev Andriatsima (Madagascar & Clermont Foot)
- Franck Kom (Cameroon & Esperance)
- Jacinto Muondo Dala ‘Gelson’ (Angola & Primeiro de Agosto)
- Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)
- Idrissa Gueye (Senegal & Everton)
- Ismail Haddad (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
- Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele (DR Congo & AS Vita)
- Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)
- Mahmoud Benhalib (Morocco & Raja Club Athletic)
- Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
- Moussa Marega (Mali & Porto)
- Naby Keita (Guinea & Liverpool)
- Odion Ighalo (Nigeria & Changchun Yatai, Nigeria)
- Percy Tau (South Africa & Union Saint-Gilloise)
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)
- Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
- Taha Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)
- Thomas Partey (Ghana & Atletico Madrid)
- Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia & Saint-Étienne)
- Walid Soliman (Egypt & Ahly)
- Wilfried Zaha (Cote d’Ivoire & Crystal Palace)
- Yacine Brahimi (Algeria & Porto)
- Youcef Belaili (Algeria & Esperance)
