Liverpool Dominates BBC’s African Footballer Of The Year Shortlist

The BBC released their five-man shortlist for their annual African Footballer Of The Year on Saturday. With four of the five players having ties to Anfield, Liverpool were well represented.

Current squad members Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah made the list. Mane scored 13 goals for Liverpool in the 2016-17 season— and that’s after missing the last two months of the campaign due to injury— and was instrumental in helping Senegal qualify for the World Cup. Similarly, Mohamed Salah helped push Egypt over the line in World Cup Qualifying while proving himself a rock star for the Reds. He’s scored 12 goals for Liverpool just this season; no Liverpool player has scored more than 14 goals in one season since Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14, and it’s only November. Needless to say, both are deserving of the honor.

In addition, incoming Liverpool signing Naby Keita made the list. The Guinean international, who will report to Melwood in July 2018, was instrumental in RB Leipzig’s surprise runners-up finish in the 2016-17 Bunesliga season.

The shortlist also features Chelsea and Nigeria winger Victor Moses, who spent the 2013-14 season on loan at Liverpool.

Borussia Dortmund and Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rounds out the shortlist.

You can check out clips for each nominee, as well as vote in the online poll, at BBC Sport.