By Goodness Ndukuba on September 18, 2023
World football governing body FIFA has released the final 12 man shortlist for the best award.
The award is for the best player in the world and will take place later this year.
The qualification period for the Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 runs from Dec. 19, 2022 to Aug. 20, 2023 (it does not include the World Cup 2022, according to an explanation by FIFA.
In the list, only one African in Victor Osimhen made the shortlist of 12 after helping Napoli to their first league title in 33 years. The nomination placed him as the best player in the African continent.
However in the goalkeeper’s category the duo of Yassine Bounou (Sevilla) and Andre Onana (Inter Milan) of Morocco and Cameroon respectively. They were both inspirational for their teams in Europe last season.
While Bounou helped Sevilla to the Europa League title, Onana was key in Inter Milan reaching the UEFA Champions League final, where they lost 0-1 to Manchester City.
The final 12 nominees:
Julián Alvarez
Kevin De Bruyne
Marcelo Brozović
İlkay Gündoğan
Erling Haaland
Rodri
Kvaratskhelia
Kylian Mbappé
Lionel Messi
Victor Osimhen
Declan Rice
Bernardo Silva"Source Punch Ng
Posted September 18, 2023
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