Mohamed Salah Eyes Hat Trick of African Best Player Awards

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In the race for the 2023 African Player of the Year award, Mohamed Salah is eyeing a hat trick after being named among the three finalists, alongside Achraf Hakimi and Victor Osimhen. Notably absent from the list are previous winners Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez, who both made moves to clubs in Saudi Arabia this year.

The winners will be announced at the annual award ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, with the voting process involving the Confederation of African Football's technical committee, media, national team captains and coaches, as well as clubs participating in continental competitions.

Salah, a star for Egypt, clinched the African Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018 but finished as the runner-up last year.

Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back, gained recognition for his stellar performance with the Moroccan national team in the 2022 World Cup, reaching the semifinals. Osimhen, a Nigerian forward, contributed significantly to Napoli's Serie A title by scoring 26 goals, marking the club's first triumph in 33 years.

The exclusion of Mane and Mahrez, who had successful seasons with Bayern Munich and Manchester City, respectively, raises eyebrows.

Mane faced challenges in his first season at Bayern and missed the World Cup due to injury, while Mahrez was part of the Manchester City squad that secured a treble of Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup titles.

For the Women's African Player of the Year award, Asisat Oshoala, a five-time winner, is in contention with Thembi Kgatlana and Barbra Banda. Oshoala, who secured her fifth award in 2022, played a pivotal role in Barcelona's Women's Champions League victory and represented Nigeria in the Women's World Cup.

Kgatlana, playing for Racing Louisville in the United States, made a notable impact for South Africa in the World Cup, while Banda captained Zambia in the tournament held in Australia and New Zealand.

The award ceremony promises to be a momentous occasion, recognizing the outstanding contributions of African football talents on both the men's and women's fronts.