Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has been named in the final three for the CAF African Player of the Year award.
The 29-year-old made 49 appearances last season for the Blues as they lifted the UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and reached both domestic cup finals.
The Senegal international also lifted the Club World Cup with his country, making vital saves as he made history with his country.
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He also put in several impressive performances for his club, with head coach Thomas Tuchel praising him for his FA Cup final display.
"But we recovered and managed to stay in the match, maybe because of an excellent goalkeeping performance from Edou, and this can happen,” he said after Chelsea’s loss on penalties.
The Blues boss continued to praise his goalkeeper after Mendy returned from international duty after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with Senegal.
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"Fantastic. He won AFCON and now the rematch of the final against Egypt. He made it again through penalties, and won again on penalties,” Tuchel said.
"It’s a strong, strong team (Senegal) and I think they, and he deserves to go there (to the World Cup). Brilliant 18 months and he will arrive with a competitive team in Qatar."
Mendy’s accomplishments have now been acknowledged, with the goalkeeper nominated for a CAF award.
The winner of the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award will be announced on Thursday, with Mendy in the final three.
Alongside Mendy, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and his former teammates Sadio Mane, now of Bayern Munich, have been named in the final three.
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Furthermore, Mendy’s side Senegal have been nominated for National Team of the Year after an impressive year.
It remains to be seen as to whether Mendy will win the award, facing tough competition.
Salah scored 31 goals in 51 games for his club last season as Liverpool won both domestic cups on offer, finishing second in the Premier League.
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Mane, also of Liverpool last season, bagged 23 goals in the same number of matches but also lifted the Africa Cup of Nations and helped his team qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the end of the season.
New Chelsea signing Kalidou Koulibaly has not made the final three despite being nominated for the award.
He arrived from Napoli for £34 million earlier in the transfer window but is yet to appear for the Blues on their pre-season tour of the United States.
The 31-year-old will be hopeful of lifting the award next season if he can have a successful year at Chelsea.
Topics: Chelsea, Edouard Mendy, Senegal, Africa Cup Of Nations, Premier League, Football, Thomas Tuchel
Nick Emms