By Amosu Adeboye
Four Nigerian players have been listed amongst the nominees for the 2019 FIFPro/CAF Africa Best XI following their outstanding performances for club and country.
The quartet is led by former Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo who was top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt with five goals.
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi who has enjoyed a fine season with the Premier League club is also on the shortlist.
Alex Iwobi, who plays for Premier League club, Everton and goalkeeper Francis Uzoho are the two other Nigerian players that made the list.
2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners Algeria dominates the 55-man nominee list with a total of 10 players.
The 2019 FIFPro/Africa Finest XI will be unveiled during the 27th edition of the Caf Awards set for the Albatros Citadel Resort in Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Red Sea in Egypt on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.
Full list of nominees:
Goalkeepers: Moez Ben Cherifia, Yassine Bonnou, Mohamed El Shenaway, Sylvain, Gbohouo, Rais M’bolhi, Edouard Mendy, Richard Ofori, Andre Onana, Denis Onyango, Francis Uzoho.
Defenders: Youcef Atal, Serge Aurier, Mehdi Benatia, Ahmed El-Mohammadi, Lamine Gassama, Faouzi Ghoulam, Achraf Hakimi, Ahmed Hegazi, Kalidou Koilibaly, Christian Luyindama, Issa Mandi, Joel Matip, Noussair Mazraoui, Yassine Meriah, Youssouf Sabaly.
Midfielders: Andre-Frank Anguissa, Ismael Bennacer, Sofiane Feghouli, Idrissa Gueye, Tarek Hamed, Alex Iwobi, Wahbi Khazri, Naby Keita, Franck Kessie, Wilfried Ndidi, Riyad Mahrez, Thomas Partey, Mubarak Wakaso, Victor Wanyama, Hakim Ziyech.
Forwards: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Jordan Ayew, Anis Badri, Cedric Bakambu, Youcef Belaili, Baghdad Bounedjah, Odion Ighalo, Sadio Mane, Moussa Marega, Mbaye Niang, Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Salah, Islam Slimani, Percy Tau, Wilfried Zaha.
