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Here is the list of the 11 participants in the Marc-Vivien Foé RFI / France 24 award for the 2020/2021 season, which awards the best African player in Ligue 1. The final trio will be selected by a committee of journalists and announced on 29 April.
Nayef AGUERD (RENNAIS STADIUM / MOROCCO)
Transferred last summer from Dijon to Rennes, who graduated from the Mohammed VI academy in Rabat has yet to reach a milestone this season. A solid and diligent defender, this son of a former football player also knows how to turn into a goal scorer. At 25, this left-hander still has plenty of room for improvement.
Farid BOULAYA (FC METZ / ALGERIA)
At the age of 28, this creative attacking midfielder has finally established himself at the highest level and has especially shone in the second division before. Scorer, passer and especially dribbler, number 10 Metz shines, so that it is regularly called into the Algerian selection, despite the strong competition for his post.
Andy DELORT (MONTPELLIER HÉRAULT SPORT CLUB / ALGERIA)
Montpellier has become a safe bet in Ligue 1. The African champion 2019 certainly had only ten in the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé 2020. But with his often decisive goals and his strong personality, the 29-year-old striker can aim for better in the 2021 edition.
Boulaye DIA (REIMS STADIUM / SENEGAL)
Although he had a decline of two and a half months, Boulaye Dia continues to amaze this season. The one who is among the top scorers in L1 still played in the 4th division three years ago. An atypical course that arouses respect and attracted the attention of Aliou Cissé, the coach of the Senegal team.
Seko FOFANA (LENS RACING CLUB / CIVES OF IVORY)
He is one of the great craftsmen in the beautiful countryside of RC Lens and one of the darlings of the Lensois public. This combative midfielder, who started from France, apparently used his experience in England and especially in Italy during four seasons in Udinese to toughen up and thus add tactical maturity to his punching skills.
Idrissa GUEYE (PARIS SAINT GERMAIN / SENEGAL)
Sometimes questioned by PSG supporters, the midfielder seems to have regained confidence since Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival on the side. At 31, the Senegalese are mature enough to focus on one of the season’s big goals: to help Paris retain its title as champions of France.
Tino KADEWERE (OLYMPIK LYONNAIS / ZIMBABWE)
Top scorer in the 2nd division last season with Le Havre, Zimbabwean was expected with curiosity by Lyon fans. After a few weeks of adjustment, the 25-year-old striker has had a productive winter. He scored special points in every sense and gave victory in the Olympics against Saint-Etienne and PSG.
Gaël KAKUTA (RACING CLUB DE LENS / DRC)
After climbing the ladder of eleven teams, in six different countries, the former great hope for French football has found a second youth within his training club. He has already broken his record for goals scored in one season, in the league. Will he be 29 years the first Lensois and the first Congolese winner of the Marc-Vivien Foé Prize?
Alexandre OUKIDJA (FC METZ / ALGERIA)
The porter took the time to establish his reputation among the elite. But at 32, and after many seasons in the lower divisions, the goalkeeper has become a respected player in his post in Ligue 1. The performance of the 2019 African champions is obviously not related to the fact that Messins has one of the best defenses in L1.
REINILDO MANDAVA (LOSC LILLE / MOZAMBIQUE)
Rare are the Mozambicans who have shone in France, like Mexer. Reinildo is one of them. The left side seems to have scored points in Lille, where his professionalism, fighting spirit and defensive solidity are much appreciated, especially during major Ligue 1 meetings.
Karl TOKO-EKAMBI (OLYMPIK LYONNAIS / CAMEROON)
Will the winner of the Marc-Vivien Prize 2018 imitate the Ivorian Gervinho (crowned 2010 and 2011) and achieve the double? The Cameroonian has been ridiculed for a moment by Lyon supporters for his lack of success and has regained all his composure, forming a formidable trio of strikers with Kadewere and the Dutchman Memphis Depay.
• The winners of previous editions:
2009: Marouane Chamakh (Morocco)
2010: Gervinho (Ivory Coast)
2011: Gervinho (Ivory Coast)
2012: Younès Belhanda (Morocco)
2013: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
2014: Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
2015: André Ayew (Ghana)
2016: Sofiane Boufal (Morocco)
2017: Jean Michaël Seri (Ivory Coast)
2018: Karl Toko-Ekambi (Cameroon)
2019: Nicolas Pépé (Ivory Coast)
2020: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
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