Toure left off shortlist for CAF African Player of the Year award

Despite a new beginning at Manchester City, midfielder Yaya Toure was omitted from the Confederation of African Football's shortlist Tuesday for the continent's Player of the Year award.

Leicester City duo Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, Liverpool winger Sadio Mane, and Roma speedster Mohamed Salah all claimed spots on the five-man list.

But 33-year-old Toure - who was outraged after failing to land a fifth consecutive honour last January - couldn't recoup a place among Africa's best.

Though he was nominated for the BBC's version of the award earlier this month, Toure has accomplished little of note over the past calendar year. Last weekend's two-goal performance notwithstanding, the Ivory Coast international is still fighting for Pep Guardiola's respect.

He's made just two competitive appearances under the Spanish manager this season.

Toure was just as ineffective in the final months of the Manuel Pellegrini era, showing a lack of pace and invention as opponents left him for dead.

His compatriots have conversely enjoyed career-defining progress.

Reigning PFA Player of the Year Mahrez contributed 17 goals and 11 assists as Leicester won an unprecedented Premier League title. Fellow Algerian Slimani jointed the Foxes for a club-record £30-million fee after emerging as a penalty-box specialist for Sporting Lisbon.

Mane earned a similar blockbuster move to Liverpool over the summer, and he's since become one of Jurgen Klopp's leading lights in the Premier League.

Salah, meanwhile, has surged to the top of the Serie A scorers' table with 10 tallies. Aubameyang currently leads the Bundesliga with 12 tallies of his own.