Familiar trio make shortlist for African player of the year

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Arsenal - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 29, 2018 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Phil Noble

CAIRO (Reuters) - Forwards Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have again made the shortlist for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) player of the year award, the second year running the trio have battled it out for the prestigious prize.

Egypt striker Salah claimed the honour last year and will be favourite again, hoping to become the fourth player to win back-to-back titles after Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure.

Liverpool team mate Mane from Senegal has been getting closer to the prize after finishing third in the voting in 2016 and second last year.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Arsenal - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 29, 2018 Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their third goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Gabon forward Aubameyang made the final three for the fifth time in succession, equalling the record set by Toure and former Ghana international midfielder Michael Essien.

His only victory came in 2015 when he beat Toure and Ghanaian Andre Ayew to the prize.

The award is voted for by the national team coaches and captains of CAF’s 56 member associations and the winner for 2018 will be announced in Dakar, Senegal on Jan. 8.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - December 26, 2018 Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks dejected at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Christian Radnedge)