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Former Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has acknowledged the presence of many exceptional players on the shortlist for the African Player of the Year award, despite Mohammed Kudus’s notable omission.
Kudus, who had an impressive debut season in the Premier League with 14 goals and six assists for West Ham United, was surprisingly absent when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released its ten-man shortlist.
The list included notable names such as Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, all of whom were recognized for their outstanding performances over the past year. “I was hoping he would make the shortlist, but there were also many outstanding players who performed exceptionally well in Africa last year,” Agyemang-Badu told Flashscore. He emphasized that while it was disappointing for Kudus not to be included, the competition was fierce. Despite this surprise, Agyemang-Badu remains optimistic about Kudus’s future prospects. “Kudus is still young and has plenty of opportunities to be crowned Africa’s best. He just needs to stay focused, keep learning, and continue to grow. His time will come—it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” he added.
Kudus enjoyed a remarkable first season with West Ham, showcasing his talent on a bigger stage.
However, no Ghanaian player has won the African Player of the Year award since Abedi Ayew in 1992, highlighting the challenges faced by Ghanaian footballers in achieving this prestigious recognition.
source:Ghanasoccernet.com