CAF POTY: Frederic Kanoute Backs Inaki Williams to Make Top 3 for 2024 Award

• Frederic Kanoute has tipped Ghana forward, Inaki Williams, to make the podium for the top African player award
• The Black Stars ace helped Athletic Bilbao win their first title in 40 years after victory in the Copa Del Rey final
• Kanoute, who won the award in 2007, has also named Nigeria's Ademola Lookman in his top three for the prize

Former African Player of the Year, Frederic Kanoute, believes Ghana forward, Inaki Williams, has done enough to make the top three for the continental award.

The Black Stars forward enjoyed his best campaign in Spain during the last season, scoring 12 La Liga goals and winning the Copa del Rey with Athletic Bilbao.

While the race for the coveted gong remains open, with several top contenders in the mix, Nigeria's Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman are frontrunners.

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Boniface won the double with Bayer Leverkusen while Lookman ended the German outfit's invincibility with a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final for Atalanta.

Kanoute believes there is room for Williams to make the best three on the continent, but that will also come with some hard work in the second part of the year.

"I would say it is difficult to [name the top three African players]. I am thinking about Inaki Williams, who had a fantastic season with Athletic Bilbao. It’s difficult for me to give names but maybe I will say Ademola Lookman, Mohamed Salah, and Inaki Williams," Kanoute said, as quoted by 3 Sports.

Salah ended last season trophyless but was key to Liverpool's return to the UEFA Champions League.

Other players who could also make the podium are Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United, Bayer Leverkusen's Odilon Kossounou, and Edmond Tapsoba of Burkina Faso.

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Williams is currently nursing an injury after undergoing surgery to remove a piece of glass from his foot, as reported by Ghana Soccernet.

Inaki Williams celebrates Nico after MOTM display

Sports Brief also reported on Inaki Williams lauding his brother, Nico Williams for his Man of the Match display in Spain's victory over Italy.

The Athletic Bilbao winger starred for La Roja as they defeated the Azzurri to go top of Group B and progress to the last 16 of the 2024 Euro.

Williams' cross was deflected into an own goal by Riccardo Calafiori in the second half as the Spanish continued to show trophy credentials.