Accra, Jan 5, GNA - Suleiman Habuba, Head of the Communications and Public Relations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) says the Federation has no hand in the selection of players for its annual awards.

CAF has been bombarded with criticism for leaving out Egyptian Mohammed Aboutrika in the three short listed players for the Player of the Year award of their annual Awards ceremony scheduled for March 1.

He told the GNA Sports 'our duty as an association ended with the selection of all 35 potential players for the award.

"To make it among the last three is determined by all 52 national coaches."

Ghanaian, Michael Essien, Cameroonian, Samual Eto'o Fils and Ivorian Didier Drobga are the trio who will be competing for the topmost award at the ceremony in Accra on March 1.

He said after the Technical and Media Committees of CAF had selected the initial 35, national coaches were mandated to vote for their best three to contest for the ultimate during the ceremony. CAF, according to Habuba, lacks the right to determine who must make the final shortlist.

"We are only the mother organization and we lack the right to determine who must make the final list.

"Our job after the voting is solely on publishing the outcome." One of the players will be declared the winner at the Accra ceremony.