There was no Black Stars player named in the just-released 30-man Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Player of the Year shortlist.

The 30-man shortlist included Bayern Munich and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Blati Toure (Burkina Faso), Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon), and others selected by a panel made up of Technical Experts, CAF Legends, and Journalists.

Despite no Ghanaian being named in the Player of the Year, Black Stars and Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana was among the Young Player of the Year shortlist.

CAF also released the list of the Interclub Player of the Year (Men), Coach of the Year (Men), National Team of the Year (Men), and Club of the Year.

The CAF Awards 2022 would be held ahead of the final of Africa’s flagship women’s competitions, TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2022 scheduled to take place between 02 July – 23 July 2022.

The event would also coincide with the two-year anniversary of the launch of the CAF Women’s Football Strategy.

Full list of shortlist:

Player of the Year (Men)

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)

Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso & Aston Villa)

Blati Toure (Burkina Faso & Pyramids)

Edmund Tapsoba (Burkina Faso & Bayer Leverkusen)

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon & Napoli)

Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon & Lyon)

Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon & Al Nassr)

Youssouf M’Changama (Comoros & Guingamp)

Franck Kessie (Cote d’Ivoire & AC Milan)

Sebastien Haller (Cote d’Ivoire & Ajax)

Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt & Al Ahly)

Mohamed ElNeny (Egypt & Arsenal)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

Mohamed Shenawy (Egypt & Al Ahly)

Musa Barrow (Gambia & Bologna)

Naby Keita (Guinea & Liverpool)

Aliou Dieng (Mali & Al Ahly)

Hamari Traore (Mali & Rennes)

Yves Bissouma (Mali & Tottenham Hotspur)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Paris Saint-Germain)

Sofiane Boufal (Morocco & Angers)

Yahya Jabrane (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)

Yassine Bounou (Morocco & Sevilla)

Moses Simon (Nigeria & Nantes)

Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea)

Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)

Nampalys Mendy (Senegal & Leicester City)

Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)

Saliou Ciss (Senegal & Nancy)

Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men)

Riad Benayad (ES Setif)

Tiago Azulao (Petro Atletico)

Karim Konate (ASEC Mimomas)

Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly)

Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly)

Mohamed Shenawy (Al Ahly)

Mohamed Sherif (Al Ahly)

Percy Tau (Al Ahly)

Morlaye Sylla (Horoya)

Achraf Dari (Wydad Athletic Club)

Yahya Jabrane (Wydad Athletic Club)

Zouhair El Moutaraji (Wydad Athletic Club)

Mouhcine Moutouali (Raja Club Athletic)

Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane)

Youssou El Fahli (RS Berkane)

Victorien Adebayor (Niger & Union Sportive Gendarmerie Nationale)

Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Bandile Shandu (Orlando Pirates)

Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates)

Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Esperance Sportive de Tunis)

Young Player of the Year (Men)

Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso & Lorient)

Karim Konate (Cote d’Ivoire & ASEC/RB Salzburg)

Jesus Owono (Equatorial Guinea & Alaves)

James Gomez (The Gambia & AC Horsens)

Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana & Rennes)

Ilaix Moriba Kourouma (Guinea & Valencia)

El Bilal Toure (Mali & Reims)

Akinkunmi Amoo (Nigeria & FC Copenhagen)

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal & Metz)

Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia & Manchester United)

Coach of the Year (Men)

Kamou Malo (Burkina Faso)

Amir Abdou (Comoros)

Carlos Quieroz (Egypt)

Pitso Mosimane (Al Ahly)

Tom Saintfiet (The Gambia)

Florent Ibenge (RS Berkane)

Vahid Halilhodzic (Morocco)

Walid Regragui (Wydad Athletic Club)

Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

Mandla Ncikazi (Orlando Pirates)

National Team of the Year (Men)

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Comoros

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

The Gambia

Mali

Morocco

Senegal

Tunisia

Club of the Year (Men)

ES Setif (Algeria)

Petro Atletico (Angola)

TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Al Ahly (Egypt)

Ahli Tripoli (Libya)

Al Ittihad (Libya)

Raja Club Athletic (Morocco)

RS Berkane (Morocco)

Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)

Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

Source: GNA

Accra Hearts of Oak came from a goal down to overcome a stubborn 10-man Bechem United to  defend the MTN FA Cup they won last season at the Baba Yara Stadium.

A 45th minute goal by Emmanuel Avornyo broke the deadlock of a combative first half which saw both teams creating decent chances.

The Phobians however, lived up to their “never say die” motto when they restored parity in additional time to end the first half without a deficit.

Hearts created the first chance after two minutes but goalkeeper Abdulai Idrissu of Bechem United came off his line to intercept a dangerous ball into the area.

Bechem took over the game in the next five minutes, bombarding the vital area of Hearts of Oak with series of attacks but failed to make the opportunities count.

The Phobians, however, had the brightest chance to go ahead against the run of play in the 10th minute when Afriyie Barnie was released by a defence-splitting pass but he fluffed the glorious opportunity.

On the 16th minute, Accra Hearts of Oak called for a penalty after Barnie was brought down in the box, but referee Abdul-Latif Adaari would have none of that as he waved play on.

The Hunters stole the lead on the brink of half time as the defence of the Phobians were caught ball watching.

It was a swift build up from the midfield as Bechem switched defence into attack with Augustine Okrah, Clinton Duodu, and Avornyo combining beautifully during the onslaught.

A first attempt at goal was saved by Richmond Ayi, but Avornyo was on hand to plant the rebound beyond the goalkeeper.

Just when everyone thought the referee was about to end the half, Caleb Amankwah sent the Phobian fans into wild jubilation with a stunning equaliser.

The defender stylishly connected an inswinger from Samuel Inkoom, leaving both the backline of the Hunters and the goalkeeper in wonderland.

The second half resumed with both sides determined to annex the coveted trophy before an impressive spectators.

The Phobians took the lead for the first time in the game through Barnie who connected a beautiful cross from Gladson Awako.

As the Hunters pressed for the equaliser, their leading marksman, Augustine Okrah took an early shower in the 64th after an altercation with  Assistant  Referee One, Stephen Balanguena.

The winger who was incensed by  a decision by the Assistant Referee headed him on the mouth, leaving Referee Adaari with no option than to show him the exit.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Bechem United pushed for the equaliser as they threw more men upfront.

Mohammed Alhassan almost gave away a goal with five minutes to end proceedings when he gifted an opponent the ball in the vital area only for the attacker to throw away the opportunity.

Hearts managed to hold on for the remaining minutes of the game,  successfully defending the F A Cup for two consecutive seasons.

Source: GNA