Ex Ghana captain Stephen Appiah is stunned by Asamoah Gyan’s exclusion from the final shortlist for the 2014 CAF African Player of the Year award.

The Black Stars captain failed to make the final cut for the prestigious award which will be handed out on January 8 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Gyan had a phenomenal 2014 – emerging as the highest scoring African in the history of the World Cup finals and was also named the Best Foreign Player in Asia following his heroics in the Asian Champions League with Al Ain.

The 29-year-old was however excluded from the final three-man shortlist for the African award with Ivorian star Yaya Toure in the running to win his fourth successive crown as he comes up against Gabon’s Pierre Emerick Aubumayang and Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah is shocked by his ex-international teammate’s exclusion from the award.

“I am surprised they [CAF] didn’t include Gyan in the final three. He has been impressive this year for both Ghana and his team in UAE,” he told Ghana Sports.

“He even went to the World Cup and did very well by scoring some goals and he is currently the top scorer at his Club,” he added.

“I don’t really know the criteria they used but for me I’m really surprised they didn’t name him in the final three.”