Nearly a month after revealing a list of 11 nominees, RFI and France 24 have unveiled on Thursday the 3 finalists for the 2024 Marc-Vivien Foé Award, which honors the best African player of the season in Ligue 1.
And, unsurprisingly, Chancel Mbemba, the winner in 2023, will not retain his crown! Although he was present in the initial list, the rock-solid defender from Olympique de Marseille did not survive this second selection process. A logical outcome for the Congolese international, who has been less consistent and more often injured this season.
Lamine Camara (Senegal/Metz), the African champions Oumar Diakité (Côte d’Ivoire/Reims) and Wilfried Singo (Côte d’Ivoire/Monaco), Amine Gouiri (Algeria/Rennes), Terem Moffi (Nigeria/Nice), Youssouf Ndayishimiye (Burundi/Nice), and Moses Simon (Nigeria/Nantes) also failed to make the final cut.
Aubameyang for the double?
This means that the title will be contested between Gabonese forward Pierrre-Emerick Aubameyang (OM), Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), and Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi (PSG), who was recently crowned French champion. Three prominent figures in Ligue 1 who have also benefited from the exposure provided by a long journey in European competition to showcase their talents to the jury of specialists called to vote.
Prix Marc-Vivien Foé 2024: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nabil Bentaleb et Achraf Hakimi finalistes https://t.co/mpdYaVGHDT pic.twitter.com/RI776b09KR
— Afrique Foot (@Foot_Afrique) May 2, 2024
With his 27 goals scored in all competitions this season, PEA seems to have a good lead over his two North African competitors, but we will have to wait until May 13 to find out if the Panther will indeed win the trophy for the second time after 2013.
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