Moroccans dominate African Player of the Year shortlist

They are goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, full-back Achraf Hakimi, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and forward Youssef En-Nesyri.

In Qatar, Morocco topped a World Cup group that included Belgium and 2018 runners-up Croatia, then eliminated Spain and Portugal before losing to France in the semi-finals.

It was the first time an African or Arab nation had reached the penultimate stage of the global showpiece. Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Sadio Mane of Senegal (twice each) and Riyad Mahrez of Algeria are former winners of the award on the shortlist this time.

Cameroon pair Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Vincent Aboubacar and Nigerian Victor Osimhen complete the list. The winner will be named at a ceremony in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh on December 11.