The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced this Thursday the names of the three finalists for the African Ballon d’Or of the year 2023. A list in which Riyad Mahrez does not appear.
It’s a disappointment for Riyad Mahrez. Author of a fabulous hat-trick with Manchester City last season, the Algerian international is not among the three finalists for the African Ballon d’Or, won last year by Sadio Mané.
The former Le Havre player, who has been playing for Saudi Arabia since this summer, is ahead of Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen and Parisian Achraf Hakimi. The name of the big winner will be revealed on December 11.
Player of the Year – 3 Finalists. #CAFAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/xPd8xmzw14
— CAF – FR (@caf_online_FR) December 7, 2023
“The African Ballon d’Or, normally, there is always Mané, Salah but last year on a collective level, it was a little more difficult for them”, Mahrez confided in comments reported by RMC Sport. As a reminder, the 32-year-old Algerian winger was crowned in 2016.
