Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi has been tipped as a future African Football of the Year by former Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh.
The 20-year-old has impressed for the Gunners after forcing his way into the team and becoming a regular under Arsene Wenger.
The award has been won by some stellar names with prolific Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scooping the title ahead of Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure and Andre Ayew last year.
The last Arsenal player to win the title was Emmanuel Adebayor back in 2008 after he scored 24 goals in 32 starts during the 2007/08 season to finish as the Golden Boot runner up.
However, Iwobi has the talent to scoop the award, according to Oliseh, who took to Twitter to reveal how impressed he has been by the midfielder, particularly during the last-gap win over Burnley on Sunday.
After the Tottenham Vs Man. City thriller,watching Burnley Vs. Arsenal.Glad to watch talented Alex Iwobi play.Potential African best player!
— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) October 2, 2016
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Iwobi faces some stiff competition for the award with Riyad Mahrez a hot favourite after helping inspire Leicester City to the Premier League title last season while fellow Nigerians Kelechi Iheanacho, John Obi Mikel and Ahmed Musa are also expected to be nominated.
The full list of nominees is released later this month with the awards handed out an a ceremony early in 2017.
While Iwobi has undoubtedly shone this season and his obvious potential has excited Arsenal fans, talk of winning this year’s award look premature. However, if he continues his current development, next season may be a different matter altogether.
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