The 5-man CAF finalists list has been whittled down. We now have 3 distinguished footballers vying for the 2013 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, best African player of the year category. They include Nigeria/Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi; Ivorian pair, Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure.

Winners will be announced during a colour gala in Lagos on January 9.

CATEGORIES

1) BEST AFRICAN PLAYER

– Mikel Obi

– Yaya Toure

– Didier Drogba

2) NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

– Burkina Faso

– Ethiopia

– Nigeria

(3) BEST COACH OF THE YEAR

– Manu Garba (Nigeria)

– Paul Put (Burkina Faso)

– Stephen Keshi (Nigeria)

(4) CLUB OF THE YEAR

Al Ahly

CS Sfaxien

Orlando Pirates

(5) HOPE OF THE YEAR

– Ebenezer Assifuah (Ghana)

– Saleh Gomaa (Egypt)

– Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria)

(6) REFEREE OF THE YEAR

– Alioum Nil (Cameroon)

– Papa Gassama (Gambia)

– Haimoudi Djamel (Algeria)

(7) LEGENDS OF THE CAF

– Mehdi Faria (Morocco)

– Bruno Metsu (France / Senegal)

CAF Platinum Award

Supporters of Nigeria

Young National Team of the Year

Nigeria U17