Omagbemi, Aubameyang shortlisted for FIFA annual awards

By Sunday Adebola

Nigeria’s women’s coach Florence Omagbemi and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are the only Africans in contention for FIFA’s annual awards.

Omagbemi lead Nigeria to an eighth continental title in Cameroon last year and is one of the 10 names on the list for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach.

Aubameyang is one of 24 players nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

The 27-year-old was the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 31 goals for Borussia Dortmund.

There were no Africans at all among the nominations for the awards for men’s coach or women’s player that were announced by football’s world governing body on Thursday.

The winners from each category will be revealed at a ceremony in London on 23 October.

Two panels of experts from across the six confederations chose the shortlisted candidates for the top performers of the 2016-17 season.