Ghana's exciting midfielder Solomon Asante named for Best Africa-based Player of the Year award

Ghana's talented and skilful midfielder Solomon Asante is among the twenty players shortlisted for the 2014 African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) in the Glo-Caf Awards to be held in Nigeria next month, GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal.

Asante, who plays for DR Congo giants TP Mazembe, is the only Ghanaian shortlisted in the 20-man list of Africa-based Player of the Year even though many excelled at the CHAN tournament in February.

This category of award is meant for who play in the African continent and excel for their clubs and countries.

Asante was instrumental in the successes of his club in the African Champions League and was exciting for the Black Stars when given the chance in their last match against Guinea in Tamale.

The list is dominated by players from South Africa who excelled in Bafana Bafana's revival with late goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa who was murdered few days ago among the three players from his country in the shortlist.

Other South Africa players in the squad are Bernard Parker and Bongani Ndulula while Amr Gamal  of Egypt and Al Ahly, the duo of Akram Djahnit and El Hedi Belamieri  of Algeria and ES Setif.

The list also included Tunisian and CS Sfaxien players: Fakhereddine Ben Youssef and Ferdjani Sassi.

Others are : Congolese quartet of Firmin Mubel Ndombe of As Vita, Jean Kasusula of TP Mazembe, Kader Bidimbou of AC Leopards and Lema Mabidi of As Vita.

Also nominated are Geoffrey Massa of Uganda and Pretoria University, Mudathir Al Taieb of Sudan and Al Hilal, Roger Assalé of Cote d'Ivoire and Sewe Sport, Souleymane Moussa of Cameroon and Coton Sport and Yunus Sentamu of Uganda and AS Vita.

The list was compiled through a vigorous exercise by the Confederation of African Football took into consideration the performance of the nominees for their national teams and clubs from January to November, this year.

The winners of the two categories will be decided by votes from the Head Coaches and Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF.

The Glo- CAF Awards Gala will take place on Thursday, 8 January 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ivorian Yaya Toure was crowned African Player of the Year for the past three years whilst Mohamed Aboutreika of Egypt was named African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) last year.