AFC Announces Asia's Player of the Year Nominees
Jakarta. The Asian Football Confederation, AFC, announced shortlists for Asia's Player of the Year award on Wednesday (09/11).
The nominees were shortlisted in both male and female categories.
Women: Caitlin Foord (Australia), Lisa De Vanna (Australia) and Tan Ruyin (China)
Men: Omar Abdulrahman (United Arab Emirates), Hammadi Ahmed Aldeeaa (Iraq) and Wu Lei (China).
The AFC said on its website that all nominees have credible achievements in Asian football.
"Caitlin Foord holds the record as the youngest ever Australian to play at a FIFA World Cup, having played in Germany at the age of 16 years and 230 days. She was subsequently named the first ever best young footballer at the tournament. Foord was part of the Australian squad at the Olympic Games in Rio.
"Lisa de Vanna played in the Olympics for the second time this year, having competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics where Australia finished 5th. She has made over 100 appearances for her national side including three FIFA Women's World Cups and two AFC Asian Women's Cups.
"Tan Ruyin has made 10 appearances at FIFA tournaments, with her debut at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014. She competed at the Olympic Games in Rio in August and will be remembered for scoring for China from 40 yards against South Africa," the AFC statement said.
The male players were equally praised by the organization:
"Midfielder for the UAE national team, Al-Ain player Omar Abdulrahman led UAE to the third round of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Asian Qualifiers and his club to this season's AFC Champions League final.
"Hammadi Ahmed Aldeeaa plays for Air Force Club, winners of this season's AFC Cup, and the Iraq national team. He was both the top scorer and most valuable player of the 2016 AFC Cup.
"Wu Lei is the all-time top goal-scorer for his club, Shanghai SIPG, with 114 goals. He also holds the record for being the youngest person to have played in a professional Chinese football match aged just 14 years and 287 days. Wu has won the Chinese Super League Golden Boot four times, most recently this year. Wu led China to third round of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Asian Qualifiers."
The best players will be announced in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in December.
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