Gyan among African nominees

Asamoah Gyan has forced his way into a five-man shortlist for the CAF Footballer of the Year award.

The Ghana striker had an impressive World Cup and was a penalty away from firing the Black Stars to the semi-finals of the showpiece.

He joins Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Samuel Eto'o and Seydou Keita as a nominee for Africa's top accolade, but the list will be cut down to three on December 11.

Eto'o is the frontrunner to land the gong after becoming the top goalscorer in African Nations Cup history as well as picking up a winner's medal in the UEFA Champions League and Serie A.

Drogba was awarded the 2009 crown, but is not expected to put up much of a fight for this year's prize.

Meanwhile, CAF has announced that from 2011, South Africa will no longer hold two spots in the African Champions League.

The country is no longer ranked in the top 12 of the tournament and will only be able to enter one team until the year 2016.