The Confederation of African Football have released a long list of nominees for the award with the trio of Odion Ighalo, Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Osimhen in the running for the award.

Ighalo now retired from international football was the top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with five goals while Ndidi has become a mainstay for English Premier League side Leicester City and is one of the world's best defensive midfielders.  He played a key role in the third place finish at the 2019 AFCON.

Osimhen  is firing on all cylinders and has proven to be a good replacement for Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe at Arsenal from Ligue 1 side Lille.

"I don't think a Nigerian player will win this time because we still have some other African players doing well too, players  like Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

"Ighalo, Osimhen and Ndidi have had their moments this calendar year but the form of the three I mentioned have been consistent. We (Nigeria) may eventually win something in the Young Player award.

"Samuel Chukwueze may really win it for his club and country performances," the member of the Super Eagles side to the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations told allnigeriasoccer.com on Monday.

On the chances of a Nigerian defender in few years time winning the CAF POTY, Babalade insists it will take massive efforts for that to happen.

"For a defender to win it, it's going to be a huge efforts from them.

"I can't say for now whether we have defenders who can win it. Maybe in the near future.

"The likes of William Troost Ekong and Ola Aina and a few others have great futures still ahead if them judging by their games for clubs and countries so far," 'Kunde' as the onetime Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan hard man was affectionately called in his playing days concluded.

Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigerian to win  the CAF gong having won it in 1996 and 1999.

Izuchukwu Okosi