Saints ace Victor Wanyama has been nominated for the prestigious African Player of the Year award.

The £12.5m Kenyan is part of a 25-man shortlist aiming to emulate greats such as Samuel Eto’o, Abedi Pele and George Weah.

The current holder is Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, who will be hoping to win the award three years in a row.

Nominees.

Ahmed Musa (Nigeria, CSKA Moscow).

Asamoah Gyan (Ghana, Al Ain).

Dame N’Doye (Senegal, Lokomotiv Moscow.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Galatasaray).

Emmanuel Emenike (Nigeria, Fenerbahce).

Islam Slimani (Algeria, Sporting Lisbon).

John Obi Mikel (Nigeria, Chelsea).

Jonathan Pitroipa (Burkina Faso, Stade Rennais).

Kevin Constant (Guinea, AC Milan).

Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana, Juventus).

Luis Carlos Almada Soares (Cape Verde, AC Omonia).

Mehdi Benattia (Morocco, AS Roma).

Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt, Al Ahly).

Mohamed Salah (Egypt, FC Basel).

Nicolas Nkoulou (Cameroon, Marseille).

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon, Borussia Dortmund).

Ryan Isaac Mendes de Graca (Cape Verde, Lille).

Saladin Said (Ethopia, Wadi Degla).

Seydou Keita (Mali, Dalian Aerbin).

Sofaine Feghouli (Algeria, Valencia).

Sunday Mba (Nigeria, Warri Wolves).

Victor Wanyama (Kenya, SAINTS).

Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria, Lille).

Gervinho (Ivory Coast, AS Roma).

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City).

The winner will be announced on January 9 in Lagos, Nigeria.