BBC World Service has announced the shortlist for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award

Revealed on the BBC’s global breakfast news programme, Newsday, the list of five contenders selected by football experts around Africa includes:

1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Gabon and Borussia Dortmund 
2. Victor Moses - Nigeria and Liverpool (on loan from Chelsea)
3. John Obi Mikel - Nigeria and Chelsea 
4. Jonathan Pitroipa - Burkina Faso and Rennes
5. Yaya Touré - Ivory Coast and Manchester City

The vote opens at 5.45am GMT today, Monday 11 November 2013, on the BBC’s global morning show Newsday and will run until Monday 25 November 2013. BBC African Footballer of the Year 2013 will be announced on Monday 2 December 2013 simultaneously on radio and television on the Focus on Africa programme broadcast on BBC World Service and BBC World News.
Fans can vote online at bbc.com/africanfootball and by SMS to +44 77 86 20 20 08, by texting 1 for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang; 2 for Victor Moses; 3 for John Obi Mikel; 4 for Jonathan Pitroipa; and 5 for Yaya Touré.
Vera Kwakofi, Current Affairs Editor for BBC Africa says: “We’re excited to announce once again a very competitive shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year competition. The nominees list reflects another remarkable year of achievement for Africa’s top footballers. Since the competition launched in 1992, it’s grown in stature and in reputation thanks to the participation of football fans across the continent, to making it the people’s award. We at the BBC are pleased to continue supporting and recognising the talent of the biggest stars in Africa’s most popular sport as a sign of our on-going commitment both to Africa and to sport.”
Audiences can follow the competition on BBC World Service on Newsday, (Monday to Friday between 3:00am and 8:30am GMT); Focus On Africa (Monday to Friday 3.00pm, 5.00pm, 7.00pm GMT; Saturday, Sunday 7.00pm GMT); Sport Today (Monday to Friday 3.30pm GMT); and Sportsworld (Saturday 3.00pm GMT; Sunday 4:00pm GMT). In-depth profiles of all five players will be featured on BBC World News’ Focus On Africa and Sport Today, and online at BBC.com.
Sports coverage on BBC World Service includes the global weekly sports show Sportshour, and World Football. BBC Afrique (French for Africa), BBC Hausa, BBC Somali, BBC Arabic, BBC Great Lakes and BBC Swahili bring audiences commentary on English Premier League weekend matches.
Information and updates on the competition will also be available on social media on the BBC Africa’s Facebook, Twitter @BBCAfrica, Google+ and Facebook football fanpage, loveafricanfootball. Audiences can tweet using the #BBCAFOTY hashtag.
Competition and Voting information:
SMS texts are limited to one text per mobile phone number. Standard international text rates apply. Please check with your service provider.
Full details and T&Cs are online at bbc.com/africanfootball