Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, and Manchester City’s Yaya Toure are in pole position to win the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.
Joining the Ivory Coast and Nigeria stars are Nigeria’s Victor Moses, Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, who form the five nominees.
The winner, who will be announced on December 2, will be chosen by a fans’ text and website vote after the shortlist was drawn up by 44 journalists from across Africa.
None of five contenders have won the accolade, while Pitroipa and Aubameyang are the first nominees coming out of their respective countries.
Mikel and Moses were instrumental to Super Eagles winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years in South Africa last February.
Toure is experiencing some of his best form in a City jersey, scoring 13 goals so far in the calendar year.
The Ivory Coast international has never won the inaugural BBC African Football of the Year award despite having seen his name among the shortlist for the past five years.
