October 28 – The two-time winner of the African Player of the Year, Mohamed Salah, has been snubbed for the most prestigious individual award in African football.
For the first time since 2017, the Liverpool superstar has failed to make the top ten shortlist. Salah has finished in the top three on the last five occasions.
The Egyptian has begun the 2024/25 season in sizzling form with six goals and five assists in nine matches, adding to his staggering total of 160 goals in the Premier League and a grand total of 214 goals and 92 assists in 352 games for the Merseysiders’ since joining the club from Serie A side, Roma.
Chelsea striker, Nicholas Jackson, posted on social media “What happened @caf_online,” echoing the shock from around the football world.
This is not the only snub that Salah has experienced this year as he failed to make the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or. Liverpool fans were equally outraged posting: “If we’re being for real, Salah is one of the most disrespected footballers in history.”
Salah continues to smash records at Liverpool even as he heads closer to the exit door after eight astonishing seasons at Anfield where he has become a cult favourite.
Salah has a history of disappointment in the running for the illustrious prize. Twice the winger was pipped to glory by fellow Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane in 2019 and 2022, after the Senegalese icon won the Africa Cup of Nations against Salah’s Egypt that year.
The forward has yet to comment himself remaining quiet on social media although you can be sure the disappointment runs deep as he has been a mainstay of CAF, and Egypt for years.
The 10-man shortlist includes the Nigerian duo of Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) and William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood) along with Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG), Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire, Brighton), Ronwen Williams (South Africa, Orlando Pirates), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, Borussia Dortmund/Frankfurt), Amine Gouri (Algeria, Rennes), Chancel Mbemba (Congo, Marseille) and Soufiane Brahimi (Morocco, Real Madrid).
The award ceremony is set for December 16 in Marrakech, Morocco, and there will be a fresh recipient this year as last year’s winner, Victor Osimhen, did not make it to the final 10. The awards take into account performances from January 2024 to October 2024.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1732262804labto1732262804ofdlr1732262804owedi1732262804sni@o1732262804fni1732262804