Black Stars deputy skipper Andre Dede Ayew is out of contention for the 2016 CAF African footballer of the year award after he was missing from the final five-man shortlist released by Africa's football governing body.
The West Ham United attacker failed to make the final cut as he was edged in the final shortlist by Algerian duo Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani as well as Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Senegalese winger Sadio Mane and Egypt's Mohamed Salah complete the final shortlist.
Ayew, who has been nominated twice in the past, is yet to win the prestigious African player of the year award having come close in 2013 and 2015.
The Black Stars deputy captain scored 12 goals in all competitions for Swansea City last season but is yet to rediscover his form after joining West Ham United this season. Ayew has endured a frustrating start to the season after he sustained an injury against Chelsea on his debut for the Hammers, which ruled him out for almost three months. His injury layoff appears to have scuppered his chances of becoming the first Ghanaian player to win the award after his father, Abedi Ayew 'Pele', in 1993.
The top five candidates were decided by votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical & Development Committee and half of the 20-member Panel of Experts (10 persons).
Aubameyang and Mahrez are however the favorites to sweep home the award. The Borrusia Dortmund striker scored 25 goals to lead the German side to second place in the Bundesliga last season and currently tops the goalscoring charts with 12 goals. Algeria's Mahrez also led Leicester City to an unlikely Premier league title triumph - winning the PFA player of the year in the process.
Nevertheless, Mohamed Salah, Saido Mane and Islam Slimani will present stiff opposition to the pair, having come off stellar campaigns both at club and international level.
The final votes will be cast by the Head Coaches/Technical Directors of the 54 National Associations affiliated to CAF plus Associate Members, Reunion Island and Zanzibar, together with the other half of the 20-member Panel of Experts (10 persons) to determine who becomes the eventual winner.
The 2016 Glo-CAF Awards will be held on Thursday, 5 January 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria.
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