This year’s nominations for the AFC Player of the Year award for both men and women has just been unveiled.
For the women category, the nominees include Caitlin Foord from Australia, Lisa De Vanna from Australia and Tan Ruyin from China. Both Foord and De Vanna played a prominent role in Australia’s bid to the semi-finals at the Rio Olympics.
China’s Tan Ruyin earned her place in the nominations after she scored a stunning 40-yard goal against South Africa at the Olympics.
In the men category, there’s Omar Abdulrahman from UAE, Hammadi Ahmed Aldeeaa from Iraq, and Wu Lei from China.
Omar Abdulrahman played a prominent role in midfield as UAE reached the third round of the World Cup qualifiers. His club Al Ain also made it to the AFC Champions League finals.
China’s Wu Lei is not his club Shanghai SIPG’s top scorer, he was also the youngest Chinese professional player when he started at only 14 years of age. The 24-year old Wu Lei has scored a total of 144 goals for his club.
The AFC Player of the Year gala award ceremony will be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on the 1st of December.
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