Yaya Toure, Brahimi, Aubameyang, Andre Ayew, Mane battle for award

The BBC have shortlisted five players for this year’s African Football of the Year award.

Holder and Algeria international, Yacine Brahimi leads the likes of Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast, Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ghanaian Andre Ayew and Senegal forward Sadio Mane.

Porto forward Brahimi was impressive on the wings for Porto this year, scoring 13 goals last season and helping the Portuguese side to their first UEFA Champions League quarter-final in six years.

Toure is the only name on this shortlist to win a trophy last season, captaining Ivory Coast to their first African Cup of Nations title in more than two decades.

He won this award in 2013.

Aubameyang finished as Borussia Dortmund's top scorer last season and has continued with his rich vein of form this season.

He created history in October by becoming the first player to score in the first eight matches of a Bundesliga season.

This is the third year running the Gabon international has been shortlisted for the BCC African Footballer of the Year.

Andre Ayew led Ghana to the final of the 2015 AFCON where they lost to Ivory Coast but finished as top scorer in the tournament.

He has also been in fine form for Swansea in the English Premier League and has won this award before in 2011.

Making his first appearance on the shortlist, Senegal international forward in the year under review scored the fastest hat-trick (179 seconds) in the 23-year history of the Premier League.

The winner will be decided by African football fans, who have until 18:00 GMT on 30 November to vote for their choice.

The winner will be announced on Friday, 11 December between 15:30 and 16:00 GMT during a special live broadcast on both BBC World News and BBC World Service, with the BBC Sport and BBC Africa websites also revealing the announcement.