Yaya Touré is once again on the shortlist to be honoured with the CAF African Player of the Year award, hoping to win it for a record fifth time during his playing career.
Samuel Eto'o, formerly of Inter Milan, Chelsea and Barcelona - now plying his trade in Turkey with Antalyaspor - is the current holder with four, and another title for Touré would mean five successive crowns for the Manchester City talisman.
Despite nomination for accolade, Touré was not at his best last term
Admittedly, Touré was not at his formidable best last season, but was still a key player for the Citizens. His early performances this term have been undoubtedly encouraging, especially since he opened the scoring against West Brom during the first round of fixtures on matchday one in the English top flight.
Competition for the award comes in the form of Ivory Coast team-mates Serge Aurier, Max Gradel and Gervinho - all of which featured during their African Cup of Nations win earlier in the year.
Plenty of Premier League representatives
As for Touré's Premier League contenders, the 39-man shortlist include Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez - who has lit up the League with exciting displays thus far this term - as well as Southampton duo Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mané. Ronald Koeman did exceptionally well to keep hold of both players, especially considering they were linked with summer switches to bigger sides within the league itself as Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United were all rumoured to be interested in their services.
Dieumerci Mbokani of Norwich City, Bournemouth's Christian Atsu, Mame Biram Diouf of Stoke City, Crystal Palace's exciting winger Yannick Bolasie, Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede and André Ayew of Swansea City complete the contenders from England’s top league, which is well represented by African players.