For the third time in four years since the inception of the CAF Team of the Year annual football award, no Nigerian player was picked in Africa's finest starting eleven.

The big absence of Wilfred Ndidi in the list was a talking point and Trabzonspor midfielder Eddy Onazi has admitted that he was shocked that the Leicester City midfielder was snubbed from the list which was selected by FIFPro.

''It is not something good for us, football players in Nigeria, the ones playing abroad everywhere. It is something that we are supposed to have our players nominated but this is football,'' Onazi said to SuperSport Naija Made on Saturday morning.

'It is a big challenge for everyone now. When I was watching it, I was ashamed of myself and I know some other people are the same. It is time for us to push.''

He added : ''I felt that Wilfred Ndidi and then several of our players who are doing very well (should have been included), although I am not very good at watching football so much, it's just when I see some of our players playing important matches.

''One person I recommended and I feel should be there is Ndidi.''

Nigeria's highest representation in the CAF Team of the Year was in 2013 when Vincent Enyeama, John Obi Mikel and Emmanuel Emenike were the chosen ones.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel