Mamelodi Sundowns, who have already won honors this year, had more good news this week when it was announced that their goalkeeper, Dennis Masinde Onyango, has been ranked 10th in the world by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) with five points.
Onyango guided Masandawana to the PSL title in South Africa in May before helping Pitso Mosimane’s team to lift their first ever CAF Champions League title, after they beat Egypt’s Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate.
Onyango guided Masandawana to the PSL title in South Africa in May before helping Pitso Mosimane’s team to lift their first ever CAF Champions League title, after they beat Egypt’s Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate.
This feat earned him a place in history as the first Ugandan to lift the coveted trophy, also becoming the first Ugandan to compete at the Fifa Club World Cup held in Japan earlier this month.
Onyango is ranked ahead of Czech Republic/Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, Samir Handanovic (Slovenia/FC Inter Milano) and Marc-André Ter Stegen (Germany/FC Barcelona) on the 13man list that was won by Bayern Munich’s German No 1, Manuel Neuer.
Football experts from 56 countries in all continents made the selections as part of the 30th anniversary of the IFFHS annual elections.
At the national team level, Onyango inspired the Uganda Cranes to Afcon 2017 qualification, ending a 39-year-long wait for the East African nation.
Onyango also helped Uganda to second place in Group E in the Fifa 2018 World Cup qualifiers with four points.
For his exploits this year, Onyango has been shortlisted among the top three nominees for the CAF Player of Year Based in Africa Award. He will be up against Sundowns teammate Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe) and Zambian Rainford Kalaba. This is the fourth consecutive time that Neuer has won this award, joining Gianluigi Buffon who won it in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Meanwhile PierreEmerick Aubameyang will captain Gabon, the first country to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad.
The Gabon and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau in Libreville on January 14.
Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali.
Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation to send him back to England.
But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot, has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad.
Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna.
Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three domestic-based stars and also placed three players on standby for the biennial Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place between January 14 and February 5.
Gabon are drawn in group A alongside debutants Guinea-Bissau, four-time champions Cameroon and Burkina Faso, runners-up in 2013.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Stephane Bitseki (CF Mounana), Anthony Mfa Mezui (unattached), Didier Ovono (Oostende)
Defenders: Aaron Appindangoye (Laval, France), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City), Johann Obiang (Troyes, France), Lloyd Palun (Red Star), Franck Perrin Obambou (Stade Mandji), Yoann Wachter (Sedan) and Benjamin Ze Ondo (Mosta)
Midfielders: Guelor Kanga Kaku (Red Star Belgrade), Mario Lemina (Juventus), Levy Madinda (Gimnastic Tarragona), Junior Serge Martinsson Ngouali (Brommapojkarna), Samson Mbingui (Raja Casablanca), Didier Ndong (Sunderland), André Poko (Karabukspor) and Merlin Tandjigora (Meizhou Hakka)
Forwards: Serge Aboue (Uniao Leiria), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Denis Bouanga (Tours), Malick Evouna (Tianjin Teda) and Cedric Ondo Biyoghe (CF Mounana).
Onyango is ranked ahead of Czech Republic/Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, Samir Handanovic (Slovenia/FC Inter Milano) and Marc-André Ter Stegen (Germany/FC Barcelona) on the 13man list that was won by Bayern Munich’s German No 1, Manuel Neuer.
Football experts from 56 countries in all continents made the selections as part of the 30th anniversary of the IFFHS annual elections.
At the national team level, Onyango inspired the Uganda Cranes to Afcon 2017 qualification, ending a 39-year-long wait for the East African nation.
Onyango also helped Uganda to second place in Group E in the Fifa 2018 World Cup qualifiers with four points.
For his exploits this year, Onyango has been shortlisted among the top three nominees for the CAF Player of Year Based in Africa Award. He will be up against Sundowns teammate Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe) and Zambian Rainford Kalaba. This is the fourth consecutive time that Neuer has won this award, joining Gianluigi Buffon who won it in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Meanwhile PierreEmerick Aubameyang will captain Gabon, the first country to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad.
The Gabon and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau in Libreville on January 14.
Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali.
Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation to send him back to England.
But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot, has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad.
Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna.
Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three domestic-based stars and also placed three players on standby for the biennial Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place between January 14 and February 5.
Gabon are drawn in group A alongside debutants Guinea-Bissau, four-time champions Cameroon and Burkina Faso, runners-up in 2013.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Stephane Bitseki (CF Mounana), Anthony Mfa Mezui (unattached), Didier Ovono (Oostende)
Defenders: Aaron Appindangoye (Laval, France), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City), Johann Obiang (Troyes, France), Lloyd Palun (Red Star), Franck Perrin Obambou (Stade Mandji), Yoann Wachter (Sedan) and Benjamin Ze Ondo (Mosta)
Midfielders: Guelor Kanga Kaku (Red Star Belgrade), Mario Lemina (Juventus), Levy Madinda (Gimnastic Tarragona), Junior Serge Martinsson Ngouali (Brommapojkarna), Samson Mbingui (Raja Casablanca), Didier Ndong (Sunderland), André Poko (Karabukspor) and Merlin Tandjigora (Meizhou Hakka)
Forwards: Serge Aboue (Uniao Leiria), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Denis Bouanga (Tours), Malick Evouna (Tianjin Teda) and Cedric Ondo Biyoghe (CF Mounana).
By: Farai Diza
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