Mohammed Kudus miss out on 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year award

Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus

Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus has been left off the CAF Men's Player of the Year award list announced on Thursday.

Given his impressive season for both club and country, many anticipated his inclusion and hoped he would contend for a podium finish.

Despite his outstanding performances, Kudus did not make the cut as CAF unveiled a list of 10 nominees, leaving out the 24-year-old attacking midfielder.

He excelled at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring two goals against Egypt and earning the Man of the Match accolade twice.

At West Ham, Kudus enjoyed a remarkable debut season, tallying eight goals in the Premier League and five in the Europa League.

Notably, the CAF list also excluded reigning champion Victor Osimhen, as well as his compatriot Victor Boniface, who enjoyed an excellent season with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga title.

Other notable absences include Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, while the nominees include Edmond Tapsoba, Amine Gouiri, Chancel Mbemba, Simon Adingra, and Achraf Hakimi. Soufiane Rahimi, Ademola Lookman, William Troost-Ekong, and Ronwen Williams were also nominated, with Lookman viewed as a strong contender following his hat-trick in the Europa League final that led Atalanta to victory.

The 2024 CAF Awards is set to take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16, marking the third consecutive year the country hosts this prestigious event.