Great news for Chelsea and Nigerian football fans – star midfielder John Obi Mikel and winger Victor Moses have been shortlisted for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year.
Both the players were not only involved but a crucial role in guiding Nigeria to their first Africa Cup of Nations crown for the best part of two decades.
The 26-year-old Mikel, who scored his first league goal in seven years (185th appearance) this season, has made a name for himself for his screening duties in the defensive midfield role while Moses has secured a season-long loan switch to Liverpool in September and bagged a goal on his debut against Swansea City already.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon are the other contenders completing the five-man list.
44 eminent journalists across African continent participated in a voting process to conclude the short-list. None of the nominees here have won the award before; however, Toure has been nominated for a fifth consecutive year.
The winner of the prestigious African award will be announced on December 2 at 17:35 GMT on the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio and television programmes.
Who will win the award? Will it be either of Mikel and Moses? Or will Yaya Toure win for the first time? Let us know your thoughts below…
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