Kelechi Iheanacho
The honour confirms global recognition of a stunning 12 months with Manchester City , during which the 20-year-old has forced his way into the senior squad under Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.
Nigerian striker Kelechi has three goals in nine appearances this season, and his stellar rise has been enough to convince Guardiola and the City hierarchy not to spend big money on another striker to compete with Sergio Aguero.
Iheanacho finished on 14 goals and seven assists in 35 appearances last term under Pellegrini, with many coming as a substitute.
The City youngster will face competition from the likes of last year’s winner, Borussia Dortmund striker Pïerre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as Manchester United defender Eric Bailly and Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez.
However, Yaya Toure, who has won the award four times and was named BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2015 after captaining Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations success, has been omitted after being frozen out under Guardiola.
The winner is decided by a vote of coaches and technical directors of African teams, and will be announced in January.
Iheanacho, has also been included in Manchester City’s 21-man travelling squad that will face Barcelona in Wednesday’s Group C UEFA Champions League clash at the Nou Camp.
City confirmed their travelling squad for the Champions League game with Barcelona on their official website on Tuesday.
Injuries to Bacary Sagna and Fabian Delph mean a 21-man party was listed for the trip to the Nou Camp for the Group C game.
Notable names in the squad include the recovering captain Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan, Claudio Bravo, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones.
Iheanacho scored a goal in City’s 4-0 home win against Borussia Moenchengladbach on matchday 1 after coming on for Sergio Aguero in the 83rd minute.
In City’s second group game against Celtic at Celtic Park which ended 3-3, Iheanacho was an unused substitute.
