Top 5: Shoot’s 2018 BBC African Footballer of Year

4. Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli and Senegal)

The Napoli central defender has had an impressive 2018, with many clubs – Manchester United reportedly being one – eyeing a January swoop. The 27-year-old excelled as the Naples side finished second in the race for the Scudetto. This term, he’s again been key as the club sit in the same league position and go to Liverpool with a chance of advancing through a difficult Champions League group which they top after five matches. For Senegal, the player who has been named in the Serie A Team of the Year the past three seasons, represented his country at just their second ever World Cup, playing all of their 270 minutes.