The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Sunday the seven-strong shortlist the 2007 AFC Player of the Year 2007 award to be presented in Sydney on 28 November.

Iraq’s AFC Asian Cup 2007 winning captain Younis Mahmoud, Saudi Arabia striker Yasser Al Qahtani, Japan’s Yasuhito Endo and Urawa Reds midfielder Shinji Ono retained their places in the updated list of nominees generated after the AFC Champions League first leg final on November 7 in Isfahan.

Javad Nekounam (Iran), Nashat Akram (Iraq), Mohamad Salehi Mehdi (Sepahan and Iran) are the other contenders in the fray for the honour.

Three Japanese players - Yasuhito Morishima, Tsukasa Umesaki and Yoichiro Kakitani - are among the four candidates for AFC Youth Player of the Year alongside DPR Korea’s Kim Kum-il.

Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic are in contention for AFC National Team of the Year while AFC Champions League finalists Urawa Reds (Japan) and Sepahan (Iran), Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (Korea Republic) and Al Wahda (UAE! ) are in contention for AFC Club Team of the Year.

China, Japan and Vietnam have been nominated for AFC National Association of the Year while 10 countries - Australia, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Lebanon, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are vying for AFC Fair Play Association of the Year accolade.

Amir Ghalenoiee (former coach of Iran), Hak Bum Kim (Seonganam Ilhwa Chunma) and Rauf Inileev (Uzbekistan national team) have been nominated for AFC Coach of the Year.


AFC Player of the Year nominees (in alphabetical order; as of November 10, 2007)

1. AKRAM Nashat (Iraq)

2. AL QAHTANI Yasser (Saudi Arabia)

3. ENDO Yasuhito (Japan)

4. MAHMOUD Younis (Iraq)

5. MEHDI Salehi Mohamad (IR Iran)

6. NEKOUNAM Javad (IR Iran)

7. ONO Shinji (Japan)