The SINISTER plot behind Mo Salah awards SNUB

Mo Salah has been one of the best players in the world since he joined Liverpool over seven years ago now.

And this season so far he has been, undoubtedly, the best player in the world.

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His 29 goal involvements in all competitions are unparalleled in the way they have altered games and he leads the best team in the world to where they are right now.

However, this clearly wasn’t enough for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), who held their 2024 Awards on Monday evening.

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman won the Men’s Player of the Year award. Whilst we disagree that he has been better than Salah, he has certainly played well this year. He helped Atalanta win the Europa League, has them top of Serie A at time of writing, and starred as his Nigeria side reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Yet, he wasn't Salah. No one is.

Lookman had 27 goal involvements across all competitions last season. As mentioned before, Salah has 29 already this season. It's not even Christmas.

Salah snub was not a mistake, alleges pundit

However, according to Tarek Talaat, managing editor of Egyptian outlet Kora Plus, something more sinister is at play.

"There are big question marks over the situation that I'm now certain the CAF is punishing Salah.” Talaat accused.

“He's not even on the preliminary list. According to the information I have, his relationship with the CAF is not the best. Neither they love Salah nor Salah loves them."

This is a fascinating but worrying insight into the politics behind these award ceremonies and the narratives that they can create. If Salah does have a poor relationship with African football’s organising body, there is no telling what could be done to combat his reputation and not give him the accolades he deserves.

In addition, speaking to Ontime Sports, former Egypt international Emad Meteb added,

"Mohamed Salah's absence from the list [2024 CAF Men's Player Awards] is a great injustice after he has previously been nominated for the award.

"He has accomplished so much that no Arab player can compete with him at the moment, so CAF officials must review their selection criteria."

Salah has previously won the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award in 2017 and 2018, coming runner up in 2019 and 2022 as well as third-place last year.

But if he continues his current form - particularly if it results in trophies for Liverpool - no one will be able to deny him a litany of accolades this time next year.

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