High flying Nigerian attacker, Junior Ajayi was on Thursday nominated for the African Player of the Year Award for players based in the continent.
The Al Ahly of Egypt star was among thirty names released by Africa’s Football governing body, CAF ahead of their annual awards ceremony billed for next January in Accra, Ghana.
Ajayi was a key component of the Ahly side which won the Egyptian League title in July for a record 39th time and has already scored twice in as many matches in the new Egyptian League season.
The former Shooting Stars of Nigeria striker also scored twice for the Red Devils in the group stage of this year’s African elite football competition, the CAF Champions League and has been pivotal to the side’s run to the final of the competition.
Ajayi and his Ahly teammates will face Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in the second leg of their final encounter on November 4 in Casablanca.
This is the first time that 21-year old Ajayi, who represented Nigeria at the Rio Olympics in 2016 will receive such recognition in his footballing career.
Full Nominee List
African Player of the Year – Based in Africa
1. Achraf Bencharki (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
2. Ahmed Fathi (Egypt & Al Ahly)
3. Alkhaly Bangoura (Guinea & Etoile du Sahel)
4. Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly)
5. Aristide Bance (Burkina Faso & Al Masry)
6. Ayman Majid (Morocco & FUS Rabat)
7. Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
8. Ben Malango (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
9. Dean Furman (South Africa & Supersport United)
10. Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
11. Elsamani Saadeldin (Sudan & Al Merreikh)
12. Fackson Kapumbu (Zambia & Zesco)
13. Fawzi Chaouchi (Algeria & MC Alger)
14. Geoffrey Serunkuma (Uganda & KCCA)
15. Jeremy Brockie (New Zealand & Supersport)
16. Junior Ajayi (Nigeria & Al Ahly)
17. Karim Aouadhi (Tunisia & CS Sfaxien)
18. Mohamed Meftah (Algeria & USM Alger)
19. Mohamed Ounnajem (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
20. Muaid Ellafi (Libya & Ahly Tripoli)
21. Nasr Eldin Ahmed (Sudan & Hilal Obeid)
22. Oussama Darfalou (Algeria & USM Alger)
23. Percy Tau (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
24. Sabelo Ndzinisa (Swaziland & Mbabane Swallows)
25. Saber Khalifa (Tunisia & Club Africain)
26. Saladin Said (Ethiopia & Saint George)
27. Sylvain Gbohouo (Cote d’Ivoire & TP Mazembe)
28. Tady Etekiama (DR Congo & AS Vita)
29. Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)
30. Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek)
