UAE stars Ahmed Khalil and Omar Abdulrahman have been named as two of three nominees for this year’s AFC Player of the Year award by Asian football’s governing body.
The news comes just a day after both players scored in the UAE’s 2-1 away win over Malaysia in 2016 Russia World Cup qualifying.
It caps a fine year for UAE football in which the national side reached the Asian Cup semi-finals and Al Ahli are currently contesting the AFC Champions League final for the first time in their history.
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Both players played their part in those respective campaigns, Omar announcing himself to the wider footballing community with his glossy displays in Australia where Khalil scored twice before finally finding consistent form for Ahli in their quest for Champions League glory.
Completing the list of nominees is China midfielder Zheng Zhi of Guangzhou, who Khalil and Ahli face in Saturday’s second-leg of the Champions League final.
The first-leg ended 0-0 in Dubai and will be the perfect chance for both Zhi and Khalil to put forward their cases for winning Asian football’s top gong.
Zheng is no stranger to the award, the 35-year-old winning it back in 2013.
Omar was a key component of both the national side’s 2015 efforts and his club side Al Ain’s romp to last season’s AGL title and their subsequent run to the Champions League round of 16.
It was there that they met Ahli and Khalil in red hot form, the UAE forward scoring twice in the second-leg to secure an away goals victory for the Red Knights.
Khalil’s form on the continental stage has produced six goals in the competition so far.
In addition to the male nominees, Australian ace Elise Kellond-Knight and Japanese duo Aya Miyama and Rumi Utsugi will fight it out for the AFC Women’s Player of the Year Award.
The winners will be announced at the annual gala awards night on November 29 in New Delhi.
