All nominees for CAF Player of the Year award have equal chance, says Adepoju

Former international, Mutiu Adepoju, has said that any of the players shortlisted for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Player of the year award for 2016, have equal chances the title.

CAF recently shortlisted the Nigeria’s English Premiership trio of Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho among other African players that include Algeria’s and Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez among others for the award of best African footballer for 2016.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Adepoju said there are players who did well in the last one year for both their countries and for their club sides. He said players like Mahrez who plays for Leicester and the current holder of the award, Aubameyang, did well among others that were picked for the award.

“There are some players, who did very well for their clubs like Mahrez, Aubameyang. Then talking about the Nigerian players on the list that include Mikel Obi who did well at the football event of the Olympics. Iheanacho too did well for his club, though age is still on his side,” he said.

Asked if Obi did not stand a chance of winning the award after he helped the U-23 Eagles won the bronze, Adepoju said the yardstick in picking who wears the crown, may have changed unlike in the past.

“Things may have changed now as the performances of players for the countries may not be the main determining factor as their success in their club sides also count to any one of them emerging as the winner of the crown.”

Nigeria’s and Wydad Athletic Club’s Chisom Chikatara and Enyimba’s Mfon Udon were the two players selected for the award of the African Player of the Year based in Africa.