Tue, 19 Dec 2017 13:07:24 +0000
By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
CHIPOLOPOLO striker Patson Daka is on the three-man shortlist for the 2017 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Young Player of the Year award.
Daka, 20, who plays for Austria side Liefering has been shortlisted alongside Senegal’s Krepin Diatta and Salam Giddou of Mali for the award, CAF announced yesterday in Accra, Ghana.
And Africa under-20 champions and World Cup quarterfinal finalists Zambia together with Mali under-17 team missed out on the top three shortlist for the National Team of the Year award. Africa champions
Cameroon, Egypt and 2018 Russia World Cup finalists will compete for the award.
Daka was instrumental in Zambia winning the 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
He was also influential in Redbull Salzburg U19’s race to win the 2016/17 UEFA youth league.
The former Power Dynamos striker was impressive in Zambia’s 2018 Russia World Cup campaign and managed to score against Cameroon in the 2-2 draw at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium last month.
Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, Egyptian Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of Senegal made the cut for the African Footballer of the Year award. Nigeria’s Victor Moses did not make the cut.
Caf did not include the list for the Referee of the Year award with Zambia’s Janny Sikazwe vying for the accolade.
The winners will be decided by votes from the head coaches and technical directors of the national associations affiliated to Caf.
The awards gala will take place on Thursday, 4 January 2018 in Accra, Ghana.
