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Nigeria's William Troost-Ekong did not make CAF's top five list for the 2024 Player of the Year.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing backlash after omitting Nigeria's William Troost-Ekong from its top five nominees for the 2024 Player of the Year award.
This decision has been labeled "laughable" by fans, especially following Troost-Ekong's standout performance as the AFCON 2023 MVP in Cote d'Ivoire.
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CAF recently announced the nominees for its prestigious annual awards, which will take place on December 16 in Marrakech, Morocco.
The initial shortlist of ten players was narrowed down, but Troost-Ekong's exclusion has sparked outrage among supporters who believe that a tournament MVP should automatically qualify for such honors.
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One fan expressed disbelief on social media, stating, “Simon Adingra makes the list but the player of the AFCON Troost-Ekong not making it is very laughable.”
“You omitted Ekong but left Williams and Adingra? on what basis?” another disappointed fan questioned.
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The final shortlist is led by Ademola Lookman, who has had an impressive year with both the Super Eagles and Atalanta.
Lookman scored three goals and provided one assist during Nigeria's journey to the AFCON final against host nation Cote d'Ivoire and made history by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Critics have questioned CAF's selection criteria, pointing out that while Troost-Ekong was pivotal in Nigeria's success at AFCON, other players with less impactful performances were included.
Comments on social media reflect this frustration, with users questioning how players like Simon Adingra could be favoured over Troost-Ekong.
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The controversy surrounding this year's nominations highlights ongoing debates about recognition in African football and calls for more transparent selection processes.
With fans eagerly awaiting the final awards ceremony, many of them are left wondering why Troost-Ekong’s contributions were not considered good enough for the top five.
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