Bernice Larryoboh
The Premier League on Monday released a 40-man shortlist for the Team of the Season as only two African players, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City made the list.
While Mahrez has five goals, five assists in 22 Premier League fixtures, Salah has 15 league goals, has made seven assists in 30 games as no Nigerian player did enough to be considered for nomination, battling relegation with their respective clubs.
However, a surprise omission from the list is Black Stars of Ghana and Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey.
The 29-year-old has been pivotal in midfield for title contenders Arsenal, who currently top the league table.
So far Partey has contributed three goals in 26 Premier League games for the Gunners this season.
Meanwhile, among players who made the cut for the Premier League Team of the Season include Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Casemiro Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale and Kevin De Bruyne.
Others are Harry Kane, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford.
Premier League 40-man nominees for Team of the Season:
Goalkeepers
Nick Pope
Aaron Ramsdale
Alisson Becker
Bernd Leno
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Defenders
Gabriel Magalhães
William Saliba
Kieran Trippier
Sven Botman
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Thiago Silva
Lisandro Martínez
Ben Mee
Luke Shaw
Cristian Romero
Rúben Dias
Midfielders
Martin Ødegaard
Kevin De Bruyne
Casemiro
Rodri
Bruno Guimarães
Alexis Mac Allister
João Palhinha
James Maddison
Solly March
Kaoru Mitoma
Rodrigo Bentancur
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Forwards
Erling Haaland
Bukayo Saka
Harry Kane
Gabriel Martinelli
Jack Grealish
Marcus Rashford
Mohamed Salah
Miguel Almirón
Ollie Watkins
Kai Havertz
Riyad Mahrez
Darwin Núñez
