Again, African players missing in The FIFA Best Awards

Harry Awurumibe, Head, Abuja Bureau

The world football governing body FIFA on Monday, announced the three finalists in each of the award categories in this year’s edition with no African player or coach making the cuts.

 Egyptian star Mohamed  Salah, though, was snubbed despite winning the UEFA  Champions League with Liverpool and also claiming his second Premier League Golden Boot.

However, his club mate, Vigil Van Dijk is the favourite to replace last year’s winner Luka Modric after he was named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year last week.

   The three nominees are van Dijk, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo and Messi have both won the award five times, and it remains to be seen whether or not Van Dijk can beat them to the prestigious accolade or if one of the superstar duo will become the first player to win the prize a sixth time.

   Meanwhile, the three final nominees for the The Best Goalkeeper award are Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City) and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (FC Barcelona).

   The finalists for the Coach of the Year award are Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur).

   All winners will be announced during the Fifa awards gala on 23 September in Milan, Italy.