For the umpteenth time, a Nigerian player will not be crowned African Player of the Year as Victor Moses has officially been dropped from the race.

Moses failed to make it into the last three as CAF on Monday released the names of the trio to succeed Algerian star, Riyad Mahrez as Africa's best.

Those in contention for the continent’s top prize, are Sadio Mane, Pierre Aubameyang and Mohamed Salah who only recently won the BBC African Player of the Year, beating Nigeria's Victor Moses and other rivals to the top prize.

The last time a Nigerian won the African Footballer of the Year Award was in 1999 through Kanu Nwankwo and the wait to end the jinx will continue again as the country’s sole hope has been dashed.

For the female category, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala is still very much in contention as she looks to make it a hat trick
of wins.

The China-based star will, however, see of the strong opposition that would be posed by the duo of Gabrielle Aboud from Cameroon and South Africa’s Chrestina Kgatlana.