Compared: the five players up for the African Player of the Year award

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The five nominees for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2018 have been announced.

Four African nations and three European leagues are represented on the shortlist, made up of five players who have enjoyed an excellent 2018.

In the past, the award has been handed to the likes of George Weah, Samuel Eto’o and four-time winner Yaya Toure.

Mohamed Salah is the current holder of the title, but will the Egyptian retain the award this year?

We’ve had a look into the five BBC AFOTY 2018 nominees and their chances of winning.

Medhi Benatia

Club: Juventus
Nation: Morocco

One of two centre-backs on the shortlist, Medhi Benatia has proven to be a reliable option for Juventus since joining the Italian giants from Bayern Munich. However, for a player who has had plenty to celebrate in 2018 – he won a second successive Serie A title with Juventus – the Moroccan’s year has been a frustrating one.

Back in April, Benatia was adjudged to have fouled Lucas Vazquez in Juventus’ Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid, leading to Cristiano Ronaldo’s winner from the penalty spot. A tough pill to swallow indeed, but Benatia’s summer brought about even more hardship.

Morocco exited the World Cup group stages with just one point, losing their most realistically winnable game against Iran in Russia. As captain, Benatia must have felt somewhat responsible.

But Benatia has the strength of character to overcome such tribulations. The 31-year-old remains a key part of the Juventus squad – he has started three of their last six games – which is a big ask in a squad containing two of Europe’s leading centre-backs, Leonardo Bonucci and Georgio Chiellini.

Benatia’s chances of winning the AFOTY award are probably slim, but his nomination is a testament to his contribution to African football.

Key stat: Only two defenders with five or more Serie A appearances have made more interceptions per 90 minutes than Benatia this season (3.2).

Kalidou Koulibaly

Club: Napoli
Nation: Senegal

Koulibaly enjoyed a stellar season for Napoli in 2017/18 that ultimately ended in disappointment. The centre-back scored a stunning header to hand his side a rare win at Juventus, but Max Allegri’s side would have the last laugh by winning the title and ensuring another trophyless campaign for Napoli.

In total, Koulibaly scored five goals in 35 Serie A appearances last season, an impressive tally for any defender. He is a guaranteed starter for Napoli, unlike Benatia at Juventus, and his ability to play out from the back has been crucial to Maurizio Sarri last term and Carlo Ancelotti now.

Much like Benatia, Koulibaly tasted disappointment in Russia over the summer. Senegal were handed a promising but competitive group and ended up losing out on a spot in the top two to Colombia and Japan.

It already looks as if the Serie A title will prove elusive to Koulibaly and Napoli yet again this season with Juventus having opened up a six point lead on Ancelotti’s men. But that doesn’t meant Koulibaly shouldn’t be rated among the best defenders Europe.

On top of that, the 27-year-old’s nomination confirms him as one of the two best African centre-backs right now. Unfortunately, he finds himself in the same boat as Benatia, trailing behind the attacking talent on the shortlist.

Key stat: Koulibaly completed an average of 64 passes per 90 minutes this season, more than any other Serie A defender.

Sadio Mane

Club: Liverpool
Nation: Senegal

This is the fourth time Sadio Mane has been nominated for the African Footballer of the Year, but he is yet to win the award. Considering the 2018 he’s had, this might be his best chance yet.

Mane is yet to win a trophy with Liverpool but there is a feeling silverware is just around the corner for the player and the club. The Senegal international scored in last season’s Champions League final only for Real Madrid to break Liverpool hearts. It’s fair to say Mane was a key reason behind the Reds’ impressive European campaign.

The 26-year-old scored an incredible 10 goals in 13 Champions League games last season, as many strikes as he managed in 29 Premier League appearances. He also found the net at the World Cup, although he shared the fate of Benatia and his Senegal teammate Koulibaly by exiting at the group stage.

Jurgen Klopp recently said Mane has improved since recognising his “world-class” status, and the German has a point. Mane clearly believes in his own ability, as proven by his six goals in 11 Premier League matches so far this term.

In any other year – one not dominated by another Liverpool player – Mane would have easily brushed aside the competition for the AFOTY trophy. But if all goes to plan, he could have his hands on a more important piece of silverware come the end of the season.

Key stat: Mane has created 12 chances and attempted 14 shots on target in 11 Premier League appearances this season.

Thomas Partey

Club: Atletico Madrid
Nation: Ghana

After featuring sporadically for Atletico Madrid in 2015/16 and 2016/17, Thomas Partey became more of regular for his club last season, playing 33 La Liga matches and scoring three goals. He has continued his development into an important first-team player this term, scoring twice and providing two assists in 10 league games.

It’s not difficult to see why Diego Simeone – a manager known to value tireless work rate highly – has put his trust in the Ghana international. Partey has spoken of his major influences being Michael Essien and Yaya Toure, and his ability to get up and down the pitch shows he has gleaned plenty from his idols.

The 25-year-old played in eight of Atletico’s nine matches on the way to winning the Europa League last season. At the beginning of this term, he came off the bench to play a key role in the 4-2 victory over rivals Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.

Whether or not a midfielder who goes about his work quietly is a genuine contender for the AFOTY is debatable. The award has gone to forwards and attacking midfielders throughout the 21st century.

For that reason, Partey will probably go unrecognised, which is in keeping with his style of play. He’ll be hoping to go one further than last season’s Europa League glory by challenging for La Liga and the Champions League with Atletico this term.

Key stat: Of Atletico’s midfielders, only Saul Niguez (14) has made more interceptions than Partey in La Liga this season (12).

Mohamed Salah

Club: Liverpool
Nation: Egypt

Mohamed Salah hasn’t quite looked the same since leaving the pitch with a shoulder injury in the Champions League final. He struggled at the World Cup with Egypt – in fairness he was clearly only half fit – and has scored eight goals in 17 appearances across all competitions this term.

Almost a goal every two games would have been a more than acceptable ratio for Salah to achieve in his first season at Liverpool. But he smashed those expectations during his debut campaign at Anfield, which is perhaps why his current form appears to be sub-par.

Salah found the net 44 times for Liverpool in 2017/18, part of which contributed to him winning the AFOTY award last year. His unbelievable first half of 2018 has made him an obvious nominee yet again, and there is still time for the Egyptian king to finish the calendar year strongly.

There is no one in the Premier League quite like Salah for finding space and exploiting it, even if he has recently struggled to match the standards he set in front of goal last term.

But let’s be honest, even if he had hypothetically failed to score a single goal yet this season, Salah would still be in the running, such was the quality of his 2017/18 output.

Key stat: Salah has created 24 chances in the Premier League this season, at least seven more than any other Liverpool player.

The likely winner: Mohamed Salah

It would be a big surprise to see anyone other Salah take the title home this year. If 2017 saw the rise of new fan favourite at Liverpool, 2018 has confirmed Salah as an African icon.

The 26-year-old should become the fourth player to win the award twice in a row in the 21st century, after Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto’o and El Hadji Diouf, ensuring Liverpool have been well represented by the award.

Mane was last year’s runner-up and that could well be the case again, although Senegal fans are faced with the tough decision of picking between him and Koulibaly.

The post Compared: the five players up for the African Player of the Year award appeared first on Squawka News.



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