A preliminary list of 34 African players, who are nominees for the 2012 CAF African Footballer of the Year, has been released. And it features three Nigerians – Victor Moses and John Mikel Obi (Chelsea) and John Utaka (Montpellier).

Mikel Obi, featured prominently, as the Blues won the Champions League and the FA Cup, while John Utaka, was part of the Montpellier team that beat high spending PSG to the Ligue 1 title. Moses was a key player, as Wigan Athletic avoided relegation last season, before linking up with Mikel at Stamford Bridge.

According to CAF’s website: “The GLO-CAF Awards Gala 2012 will be held in Accra, Ghana at the Banquet Hall, State House on December 20th.

“This year has seen three players make it on both lists. Zambia duo of Rainford Kalaba and Stoppila Sunzu from club side TP Mazembe join Tunisian, Youssef Msakni from club side Esperance on the African Footballer of the Year list which is largely dominated by African players playing club football outside the continent.

“The selection was based on performances for club and country. CAF will announce the top ten nominees for the African Footballer of the Year and the top five African footballer of the Year (based in Africa) by late October after the voting by CAF relevant Standing Committees, namely the Media, Technical and Football committees.

“The names of the respective ten and five finalists will be sent to National Association head coaches and secretary generals to select the top three.

executinal: Wishing my Naija guys success and i believe one of them must surely win it. To me i will give it to Mikel

executinal: Wishing my Naija guys success and i believe one of them must surely win it. To me i will give it to Mikel

executinal: Wishing my Naija guys success and i believe one of them must surely win it. To me i will give it to Mikel

stagger:

You are a joker. Did you see the full list of players? Cote D'Ivoire has close to 10 players. Then how do you think that Mikel or Utaka will trump guys like Demba Ba or Papiss Cisse who have been on fire since? Not to talk of some of those Moroccan guys in Ligue 1?

azimibraun: Didier Drogba and Yaya No doubt.. Infact I confuse btwn dos 2 badt ballers.. Mk yaya get am jare.

siddiq202: I want Utaka to make the final list. He realy helped Montpellier in winning the french Ligue 1

Truckpusher: JOSEPH....the dreamer.

pat077: Drogba will win it.

timbros: My top 3:

Didier Drogba
Yaya Toure
Mikel Obi

N.B: Dont attack me ooo. I said its MY top 3

Adufaye: van persie wil win it

Series22: How person go win african best player, wen him d only pass back pass, without a single goal 4 training ground or monkey post, not 2 talk of a goal in d league... MMM RECORDS.. Mtchew