CAF has revealed the finalists for the African Player of the Year award, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is notably absent from the list.
The Egyptian star has previously won the award twice, in 2017 and 2018, after making an immediate impact following his move to Liverpool. At 32 years old, Salah remains one of the top players globally, with Liverpool supporters hoping this form leads to a new contract.
During the 2023/24 season, Salah scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists in 44 appearances for Liverpool, contributing to their Carabao Cup victory. This season, he has elevated his performance even further, netting 16 goals and assisting 12 in just 22 matches.
Many Liverpool fans are questioning how Salah, with his remarkable achievements, has not been nominated for the CAF African Player of the Year award, especially considering the five finalists chosen.
Fabrizio Romano has listed the five contenders: Simon Adingra, Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, Ademola Lookman, and Ronwen Williams, who are all vying for the title of Africa’s best player in 2024.
Why has Mohamed Salah not been nominated?
Despite Salah having an outstanding individual season, the winger was only able to secure the Carabao Cup with Liverpool, which likely influenced his omission from the final five contenders.
Lookman netted a hat-trick in the Europa League final, leading Atalanta to their first European trophy, while Adingra shone in the African Cup of Nations.
The frontrunner for the award is probably Guirassy, the current Borussia Dortmund forward, following his remarkable 2023/24 season with Stuttgart. The Guinea international scored 30 goals and provided three assists in 30 appearances, helping the team finish second in the Bundesliga.
This achievement is especially impressive for a player who had not stood out before moving to Germany, and it could lead to him being named the 2024 African Player of the Year.
