WARRIORS midfielder Khama Billiat’s stock continues to rise after he was nominated for the CAF Africa Player of the Year.

Billiat is in the running for two awards after he was named among those contesting for the accolade for players based in Africa and for those plying their trade outside the continent.

The Zimbabwe international was nominated in two categories thus the African Player of the Year which has 30 players including high-profile name such as Andre Ayew of West Ham and Leicester City’s Riyaad Mahrez.

He was also nominated in another category of the African Player of Year based in Africa with other 25 players including his team mates Dennis Onyango, Keegan Dolly, Hlompo Kekana and Yannick Zakri.

This division is also dominated by players from Egyptian club Zamalek who are involved in the Champions League Cup final with Billiat’s club Mamelodi Sundowns.

Also dominating on this list are players from Moroccan club Wydad Athletic Club who reached the semi-final of the Champions League.

And it is in the African player based on the continent category, where the Mamelodi Sundowns forward stands a very good chance to win the big accolade following his club’s exploits in the Champions League where they are on the verge of winning the tournament.

On Saturday, the Brazilians beat their opponents Zamalek 3-0 in the first leg in Pretoria and will meet the Egyptians giants in Cairo this week for the decisive game.

Should Sundowns win the Champions League final, Billiat’s chances of winning the accolade will be very big.

Both winners from the two categories, will be honoured in the Glo-CAF 2016 Awards Gala that will be held next year on January 5 in Abuja Nigeria.

Last season, swept all the awards in the South African League winning the Player’s Player of the Year, Footballer of the Year and the Midfielder of the Season.

Locally, history is also beckoning for reigning South African Footballer of the Year, Billiat, who could become the first Zimbabwean player to win the Champions League.

Nominees for the African Player of the Year
1. Ahmed Musa (Nigeria & Leicester City)
2. Andre Ayew (Ghana & West Ham)
3. Aymen Abdennour Tunisia & Valencia)
4. Benjamin Mounkandjo (Cameroon & Lorient)
5. Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo & Villareal)
6. Dennis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
7. El Arabi Hillel Soudani (Algeria & Dinamo Zagreb)
8. Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United)
9. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)
10. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)
11. Itumeleng Khune (South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs)
12. John Mikel Obi (Nigeria & Chelsea)
13. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)
14. Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
15. Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City)
16. Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)
17. Mbwana Samatta (Tanzania & Genk)
18. Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus)
19. Mohamed El Neny (Egypt & Arsenal)
20. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
21.  Pierre - Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Dortmund)
22. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
23. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
24. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon & Antalyaspor)
25. Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & PSG)
26. Victor Wanyama (Kenya & Tottenham)
27. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia & Sunderland)
28. William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club)
29. Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo & Everton)
30. Yao Kouasi Gervais ‘Gervinho’ (Cote d’Ivoire & Hebei Fort)
 
Nominees for African Player of the Year - Based in Africa
1. Ali Gabr (Egypt & Zamalek)
2. Aymen Hefny (Egypt & Zamalek)
3. Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
4. Bassem Morsi (Egypt &  Zamalek)
5. Chisom Chikatara (Nigeria & Wydad Athletic Club)
6. Dennis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
7. Elia Meschak (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
8. Fabrice Nguessi Ondama (Congo & Wydad Athletic Club)
9. Hamza Lahmar (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
10. Hlompho Kekana (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
11. Idris Mbombo (DR Congo & Zesco United)
12. Itumeleng Khune (South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs)
13. Jackson Mwanza (Zambia & Zesco United)
14. Jesse Were (Kenya & Zesco United)
15. Joel Kimwaki (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
16. Joyce Lomalisa (DR Congo & AS Vita)
17. Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
18. Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)
19. Mfon Udoh (Nigeria & Enyimba)
20. Morgan Betorangal (Chad & MO Bejaia)
21. Rainford Kalaba (Zambia  &  TP Mazembe)
22. Reda Hajhouj (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
23. Salif Coulibaly (Mali & TP Mazembe)
24. William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club)
25. Yannick Zakri (Cote d’Ivoire & Mamelodi)