Four-time winner Yaya Toure has failed to make the five-man shortlist for the African Player of the Year award, with three other Premier League stars in the running.
The Manchester City midfielder has just returned to favour with his club, making his first league appearance of the season and scoring twice in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Sadio Mane of Liverpool is in contention for this year's accolade
His period in exile from the City first team has seen Toure, who was angry at not winning the last African award, miss out on selection from the voting panel.
Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Islam Slimani are among the five in contention for the prize, along with current holder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah.
Toure celebrates after the Ivory Coast won last year's Africa Cup of Nations
The award winner will be announced on January 5, the African football confederation (CAF) said.
Toure was sidelined during a dispute between his agent, Dimitri Seluk, and City manager Pep Guardiola, who demanded an apology for a series of scathing comments in the media made by the Ivorian's representative.
Mahrez (second left) was a stellar light in Leicester's stunning title success
An apology from Toure earlier this month saw the 33-year-old phased back into the first-team matchday squad.
Guardiola sold Toure to City in 2010 and he has made more than 250 appearances for the club
The 33-year-old railed against the verdict in January 2016 when Aubameyang ended his four-year reign as Africa's top player, saying it brought 'shame on Africa' and was 'indecent' that his own achievement as the Africa Cup of Nations-winning captain was not sufficiently recognised.
Toure has since retired from international football.
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