Abou-Treika makes Caf's final three
Egypt and Ahly playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika has made the final three-man shortlist for the 2012 best African-based player award, African governing body CAF announced on Friday.
Zambian duo Rainford Kalaba and Stoppila Sunzu, who both play for TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, were also named in the list.
Esperance pair Youssef Msakni and Yannick N’Djeng were surprisingly dropped despite guiding their team to the African Champions League final, where they lost to Egyptian giants Ahly 3-2 on aggregate.
The evergreen Abou-Treika, 34, has had a disappointing year with the Egyptian national team after they failed to qualify for next year’s African Nations Cup in South Africa.
He barely tasted domestic football action after last season’s Egyptian Premier League was cancelled in the wake of February’s Port Said disaster but he still played a key role in helping Ahly win a record-extending seventh Champions League title.
Fellow Egyptian Ahmed Hassan won the award in 2010 following some outstanding displays with Egypt in their triumphant Nations Cup campaign in Angola.
The winner will be announced in Ghanaian capital Accra on 20 December.
