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Five African Soccer Players Have Been Shortlisted for the 2019 Ballon d'Or

The thirty-man shortlist includes Egypt's Mohamed Salah, Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Algeria's Riyad Mahrez and Senegalese duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mane.

Forbes reports that the official shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, the so-called "Oscars" of professional soccer, has been released. The thirty-man list features five African players including Egypt's Mohamed Salah, Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Algeria's Riyad Mahrez and Senegalese duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mane. Established in 1956, the prestigious award was previously only given to Europe-based players. However, it is now awarded to the best player in the world.

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The Five Eritrean Players Who Disappeared Before Football Tournament Semi Finals Are in Hiding

The five players who are a part of the Eritrean under-20 team say they are living in 'great fear and danger'.

UPDATE 10/31: The five soccer players from Eritrea's under-20 team, who disappeared from their hotel before the semi-finals of the regional Cecafa Under-20 Challenge Cup tournament, have told the BBC that they are currently in hiding and living in fear of their collective safety. Hermon Fessehaye Yohannes, Mewael Tesfai Yosief, Simon Asmelash Mekonen, Deyben Gbtsawi Hintseab and Girmay Hanibal, are afraid to return to Eritrea amid reports that they will receive "serious punishments" after their team lost to Kenya in the semi-finals of the tournament held in Uganda at the beginning of this month.

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