Players from Africa’s top footballing countries Ghana and Nigeria were excluded from the three-man shortlist for the Best African Player in the Spanish top-flight last season.

With three players each from the two West African countries, it was expected that they would play a prominent part in the award but all of them were left out as the Spanish La Liga has named candidates for the Best African Player of the league in the 2013 – 2014 season.

Algeria international midfielder Yacine Braihim, who joined Porto from Granada in July, Moroccan Youcef Al-Arabi of Granada and Sevilla defensive midfielder Stéphane Mbia from Cameroon are the three nominees for the award.

Votes for the best candidate will be conducted online and internet users across Spain will be able to participate, according to La Liga.

The awards ceremony will be held next Monday and will include other categories like the best player from the American continent in the Spanish league.

The Nigerian players in the Spanish top-flight are Isaac Success, Ramon Azeez and Ike Uche while Ghanaian players Derek Boateng, Mohammed Fatau and Teye Patey.