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Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been left out as CAF released the five-player shortlist for the 2024 African Men's Player of the Year. The Egyptian forward was also overlooked for the 2024 Ballon d'Or shortlist despite his consistent displays for the Reds.
Salah has won the CAF African Men's Player of the Year twice in his career, in 2017 and 2018, and has made the shortlist for the award in every edition since 2017. The 32-year-old finished in the top three in 2019, 2022, and 2023, with the only exceptions being the 2020 and 2021 editions, which were cancelled due to the pandemic.
CAF unveiled the five finalists for the award. Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender Achraf Hakimi, Brighton & Hove Albion star Simon Adingra, Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made the list.
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Lookman has been included for his scintillating performances in the ongoing year. He is considered by many as the front-runner for the award. Lookman made history by scoring a hat-trick for Atalanta in their UEFA Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen in May. He also helped Nigeria reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
Adingra and Williams have been included on the back of their respective quality displays during January's AFCON for Ivory Coast and South Africa, respectively. The Brighton man helped his country win the tournament, while Williams' heroics in goal earned him a Yashin Trophy nomination. Guirassy enjoyed a brilliant 2023-24 season with Stuttgart, and Hakimi was instrumental as PSG claimed another Ligue 1 crown.
Mohamed Salah, however, has not had a below-par year, by any standards, with 21 goals and 16 assists in 40 games between January and October, the timeframe for the award. The 32-year-old was injured in January and featured in only the first game of the AFCON, scoring and assisting against Mozambique. The Liverpool star's injury may have played a part in his absence from the shortlist for the award.
Liverpool star Salah missing as Egypt round off AFCON qualifiers
Liverpool star and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah was left out of The Pharaohs' squad for this month's AFCON qualifiers against Cape Verde and Botswana. The 32-year-old forward was absent from the squad put together by coach Hossam Hassan, with the country having secured qualification for the tournament last month.
Egypt were first held to a 1-1 draw by Cape Verde on Friday, November 15, in Praia. The Liverpool man will also be unavailable for the final game of their qualifying phase against Botswana on Tuesday, November 19, as he remained with his club for training.
Mohamed Salah has been in terrific form this season, helping Arne Slot's side reach the top of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League tables. He has ten goals and ten assists in only 17 appearances for the Reds this season so far.
