Amongst a few other players, Yaya Toure, Manchester City's striker and Sadio Mane has been listed by the BBC for the African Footballer of the Year Award.

Mane who plays for Liverpool in forward position is said to be an expected name on the list, having scored about six goals for the Reds from 11 games since moving down from Southampton in a move that has been described as a "big money move."

In addition, an expected name on the list is Riyad Mahrez who had been quite formidable in the 2015/16 season and had helped Leicester City become England's Champions for the first time in their history.
An unexpected name on the list however, is Yaya Toure. The player who had only featured once for Manchester City so far this season, has had a limited playing time since the last 12 months despite being fit. In addition, his retirement from the National team, which came in September after winning 113 caps for his country, means Toure could only have be judged at club level.

He however is no stranger to the BBC exclusive awards, after having collected it in 2013 and 2015 following an impressive playing time with Manchester City and at the National level after leading his country to a needed victory in the African Cup of Nations.

Toure featured for Pep Guardiola in a Champions League qualifiers clash against Steaua Bucharest but was excluded from the main Champions League squad ever since then. His exclusion from the Manchester City's team could see him leave the club anytime soon.

So far, the favorite for the award is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who strikes in the German Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund. The Gabon international has scored 14 goals in 14 games this season and is in blistering form.