The 2013 BBC African Footballer Of The Year

The shortlist for the 2013 BBC African footballer of the year has been released. But non of the five listed candidates has ever won the award before. Without much ado, here are the names of this year's candidates.

1.  John Mikel Obi (Chelsea & Nigeria)
2.  Yaya Toure       (Man City & Ivory Coast)
3.  Jonathan Pitroipa (Rennes & Burkina Faso)
4.  Victor Moses      (Chelsea/Liverpool & Nigeria)
5.  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

BBC African Footballer of the Year Trophy

John Mikel Obi, has been in a very fine form this year for Chelsea and Nigeria. His performance at the African Cup of Nations and the Confederation Cup in Brazil, was very impressive. In both tournaments football fans saw a different Mikel. A player that has matured into one that can take control of the midfield and direct or dictate the flow of the game, especially when playing for the Super Eagles.

He won the African Cup of Nations at the beginning of the year, played in all the Super Eagles games in the Confederation Cup. Mikel scored the only goal in the Nigeria's 3 - 1 loss to Spain. He also won the Europa Cup with Chelsea this year.

Yaya Toure of Manchester City and Ivory Coast national team (The Elephant), has also been in great form for club and country. He is the only African named in the FIFA list for the footballer of the year. Toure and Mikel are the only two in this year's list that has made the list a couple of times before.

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The Burkina Faso international and FC Rennes player, Jonathan Pitroipa, who is the first player from his country to make the list, was so amazing in the African Cup of Nations, that he was named the player of the tournamnet in South Africa.

Victor Moses is another exceptionally gifted player that made the list. He was one of the influential players for Nigeria, at the African Cup of Nations. He did not participate in the Confederation Cup in Brazil due to injury. Moses is a Chelsea player but on a season loan to Liverpool. Moses like Obi won African Cup of Nations and the Europa Cup.

The Fifth player on the shortlist is the Gabonese, Pierre Emerick Aubamayang. Like Pitroipa is the first player to ever make the list from his country. Pierre is another player who is in top form. He scored 19 goals for St Etienne last season and was the second highest scorer in the French Ligue 1. Pierre won the French Cup with St Etienne before joining Borussia Dortmund this season.