Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny was the only Egyptian to be included in a 25-man shortlist drawn up by African governing body CAF to choose the continent's best player of the year. The 22-year-old has an outside chance of finishing among the top five despite his consistent displays with Swiss side Basel, whom he initially joined on a six-month loan deal in January 2013 before signing a four-year contract the following summer after impressing then coach Murat Yakin. Elneny, a central midfielder, has been also praised for his European Champions League performances this term, helping Basel make a fine start to their group stage campaign that included a 1-0 home victory over Liverpool. No Egyptian has managed to win the coveted prize since it was introduced by CAF in 1992. Former Egypt and Ahly playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika came closest when he finished second behind Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor in 2008. However, former Egypt forward Mahmoud El-Khatib, who is widely regarded as one of the country's best-ever footballers, was named as Africa's best player in 1983 when the award was given by France Football magazine. Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure won the CAF award in the past three years. The voting will be conducted by the national team coaches and technical directors of CAF member associations and the winner will be announced in Lagos, Nigeria on 8 January. The full 25-man list: Ahmed Musa (Nigeria, CSKA Moscow) Asamoah Gyan (Ghana, Al Ain) Dame N'doye (Senegal, Lokomotiv Moscow) Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Tottenham) Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon, Schalke 04) Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Tunisia, CS Sfaxien) Ferdjani Sassi (Tunisia, CS Sfaxien) Yao Kouassi Gervais ‘Gervinho' (Cote d'Ivoire, AS Roma) Islam Slimani (Algeria, Sporting Lisbon) Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana, Juventus) Mehdi Benatia (Morocco, Bayern Munich) Mohamed El Neny (Egypt, Basel) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon, Borussia Dortmund) Rais M'Bolhi (Algeria, Philadelphia Union) Sadio Mané (Senegal, Southampton) Seydou Kieta (Mali, As Roma) Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria, Valencia) Stephane Mbia (Cameroon, Sevilla) Thulani Serero (South Africa, Ajax) Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon, Porto) Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria, Lille) Wilfried Bony (Cote d'Ivoire, Swansea) Yacine Brahimi (Algeria, Porto) Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo, Crystal Palace) Yaya Toure (Cote d'Ivoire, Man City) (For more sports news and updates, follow AhramOnlineSports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/114989.aspx
