Organisers of the African Player's Awards in the English Premier League have named a shortlist of four standout Africans in the League this 2016/17 season.
A statement read that Manchester United's Eric Bailly, newly crowned champions Chelsea's Victor Moses, Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi and Tottenham Hotspur's Victor Wanyama make the four man list.
New African Soccer also stated clearly that all four shortlisted players are to be recognised as African Players of the season as "they consistently flew the flag of Africa in the EPL, week in, week out with exemplary performances".
Ivorian Bailly was a big summer signing for Manchester United last summer and although his season was blighted by a lengthy injury midway, he was a dependable member of Jose Mourinho's back four that resisted League defeat for 25 games at some point.
The story of Victor Moses is remarkable. A player who played as an offensive winger all his career, and palmed off on loan by Chelsea for three seasons in a row became a mainstay in manager Antonio Conte's 3:4:3 formation, doubling as right back and winger and winning accolades till the end.
Wilfred Ndidi's career started in January with reigning champions Leicester and perhaps had no right to be in this shortlist but for his dogged ever-presence in the Foxes midfield since his arrival, not to talk of a couple of stunning goals that contributed to the team's revival after a dismal start to the season.
The first Kenyan to play in the EPL, Victor Wanyama has flourished at Tottenham Hotspur, marshalling the holding midfield role so well as his team gave hot chase to Chelsea till the closing stages, including a nine-match straight winning run in the spring.
"All these guys are our players of the season, and deserve to be celebrated" the New African Soccer statement read, but that "in typical tradition, votes will still be required to give an award to the topmost guy in the League".
