Yaya Toure on course for third African Player of the Year accolade

Yaya Toure is on course to take home his third African Player of the Year award after the CAF published the names of candidates for the 2013 prize, as well as a second accolade which only involves players based on the continent.

The long list for the premier individual football prize in Africa is made of 25 players, with AFCON reigning champion Nigeria having the highest number of representatives with five players, followed by Cote D'Ivoire, providing three candidates, including Didier Drogba.

Cape Verde, which broke onto the continental scene this year at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, also has two men representing it: Platini and Ryan Mendes.

Roma summer signings Mehdi Benatia and Gervinho make the list, while new Borussia Dortmund attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is named among the nominees.

Egypt's Mohamed Aboutrika and Ethiopian Saladin Said are the only players based in Africa on the list for the flagship award.

The category for the Africa-based Player of the Year has 21 nominees, including three from CAF Champions League winner Al Ahly.

The winners will be announced at the GLO-CAF Awards Gala scheduled for Jan. 9, 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria.