Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the names of the final top ten nominees for the African Player of the Year with Ivory Coast dominating the awards.
Didier Drogba, Gervinho and Yaya Toure are the three Ivorians on the list that also has Christopher Katongo (Zambia), Alexander Song (Cameroun), Andrew Ayew (Ghana) and Demba Ba (Senegal).
Others on the list are Gabon’s Pierre – Emerrick Aubumeyanga, Morocco’s Younes Belhanda and Nigerian international John Obi Mikel.
However, the three favourites for the crown remain Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Zambian skipper Christopher Katongo.
Didier Drogba makes the list having led Ivory Coast to the finals of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup and also helping Chelsea to win its maiden European Champions League crown.
His team mate Yaya Toure is also credited for helping English Champions Manchester City FC win its first league title in 44 years.
Another favourite Christopher Katongo led the Chipolopolo of Zambia to the Nations Cup Crown.
CAF’s Technical, Football and Media committees decided on the current shortlist which will now be passed on to head coaches and technical directors from CAF member associations whose votes will decide the eventual winners. CAF will announce the top three in the last week of November.
Ivorian Yaya Toure was voted 2011 African Player of the Year
The winners will be unveiled at a ceremony on 20 December in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
No continent based player made the top ten list.
Full list and profile of the nominees
Alexander Song
Date of Birth: 09 September 1987
Club: Barcelona (Spain)
Country: Cameroon
Andre Ayew
Date of Birth: 17 December 1989
Club: Marseille (France)
Country: Ghana
Christopher Katongo
Date of Birth: 31 August 1982
Club: Henan Construction (China)
Country: Zambia
Demba Ba
Date of Birth: 25 May 1985
Club: for Newcastle United (England)
Country: Senegal
Didier Drogba
Date of Birth: 11 March 1978
Club: Shanghai Shenhua (China)
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
Gervinho
Date of Birth: 17 May 1987
Club: Arsenal (England)
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
John Obi Mikel
Date of Birth: 8 January 1982
Club: Chelsea (England)
Country: Nigeria
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Date of Birth: 18 June 1989
Club: Saint Etienne (France)
Country: Gabon
Yaya Toure
Date of Birth: 13 May 1983
Club: Manchester City (England)
Country: Cote d I’voire
Younes Belhanda
Date of Birth: 25 February 1990
Club: Montpellier (France)
Country: Morocco
