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Voting for the African footballer of the year 2017 is now open. You can place your vote on the BBC website.

The 5 man shortlist consists of some excellent talent, that all play their football within Europe.

The five man shortlist is as follows;

Victor Moses – Nigeria & Chelsea

After an enthralling season with Chelsea, Victor Moses deservedly has been nominated for African Footballer of the Year 2017. His Chelsea team won the league title during the 2016/17 season playing some exciting football under the guidance of manager, Antonio Conte.

After loans at; Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham, Moses finally cemented himself in the Chelsea starting line up. Playing in a wing-back position that has rejuvenated the Nigerians career.

Last season he became a regular for The Blues, making 22 consecutive starts including 13 consecutive victories before he became briefly injured in April.

During the 2016/17 seasons Moses also received an FA Cup runners up medal. Although his performance was tinged by a sending off for diving in the attempt to win a penalty.

Moses only made four international appearances throughout the calendar year. Although one of these appearances was against reining African champions Cameroon, this then gave Nigeria passage to the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Naby Keita – Guinea and RB Leipzig

Naby Keita started the 2016/17 as a relatively unknown individual but he ended up being named in the Bundesliga team of the year. This was done via a public poll and the 22-year old received more votes than any other midfielder.

Keita’s RB Leipzig side were the surprise package last season in the Bundesliga finishing second behind the dominant Bayern Munich. The box to box midfielder was instrumental in Leipzig’s success last term.

The Conakry-born midfielder impressed so much last season that he attracted the attention of Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp. Having triggered his £48m release clause to secure his services from July 2018. Leipzig later saying they would not have sold him but for the triggering of his release clause.

Kieta has mainly been named on the shortlist based on his performances for his club. His native Guinea found the road to Russia too tough, although he did score in qualifiers against Libya and Tunisia.

Sadio Mane – Senegal and Liverpool

Liverpool and Senegal forward Sadio Mane performed exceptionally throughout 2017. He was voted by his fellow professionals onto the PFA team of the year and he was also one of two Africans to make the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

He also shone on the international stage as he helped Senegal reach their first World Cup finals since 2002 in Japan & South Korea.

2017 was also his best goal scoring return for Senegal in a calendar year, Mane struck four times in nine internationals.

He ended the Premier League season with 13 goals despite missing nearly all of April and May after having knee surgery.

Mane finished his debut campaign for Liverpool as the club’s joint top scorer. He shared the honour with club talisman Philippe Coutinho although he did play fewer games. He also helped The Reds qualify for the Champions League with only their second top-four finish in the Premier League in eight years.

He later then received The Player of the Season award and the Players Player award for the 2016/17 season.

Mohamed Salah- Egypt and Liverpool

Mohamed Salah has scored over 100 goals throughout his career so far. In his home nation he will be remembered for one in particular. A late strike against Congo in October that took the Pharaohs to their first World Cup since Italy 1990.

Salah had the opportunity to send Egypt to The World Cup in Russia when he took a penalty against Congo late in stoppage time with the score at 1-1.

The goal crowned Salah as King of the Pharaohs in 2017. The team are often nicknamed ‘Salah’s Egypt’ mainly because in recent years he has inspired a side with limited resources.

Salah scored five of the seven World Cup qualifying goals that took Egypt to next summer’s tournament.

Salah’s exceptional form has not been restricted to international matches. After joining Liverpool from Roma in June he has scored seven goals in his first 11 Premier League games. The Egyptian was also named the club’s player of the month for August and September.

The winger has fared even better in this years Champions League, he has managed to score five goals in six games

A goal on his debut helped him rack up seven goals in his first 11 Premier League games, and he has fared even better in the Champions League, with five goals in six games.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon and Borussia Dortmund

Until a year ago an African had never topped the goal scoring charts in the Bundesliga. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the man to change this when he notched up 31 goals during the 2016/17 campaign.

In 2017 as a whole Aubameyang has scored 35 goals and has won The German Cup with Borussia Dortmund. He is only the second African to be nominated for the Ballon D’or and he was also shortlisted for The FIFA World Player of the Year Award that Cristiano Ronaldo went on to win.

The Gabon international has picked up last season where he left the last. He has scored eight goals in the first six games. This shows that he hasn’t lost his eye for goal over the off season and is ready to go on and cement himself as one of the greatest African footballers of all time.

Internationally, the Gabon captain had a year to forget as his country became only the fourth Africa Cup of Nations hosts to exit in the group stage, despite his two goals in three games.

You can vote for who you think The African Footballer of the Year is at bbc.co.uk/sport.

By Ben Gretton