Aubameyang, who picked up the title last year, is named on a preliminary list of 30 for Caf's annual title, which will be awarded at a gala on 5 January 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, a four-times winner and runner-up to Aubameyang last year, is not on the list.

Toure, who captained Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations success in 2015, was last year's BBC African Footballer of the Year, but has struggled this season under new Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o, currently in Turkey with Antalyaspor, is included in the list of names, and could win his fifth title.

There are five players who are also included on the list for the Africa-based player of the year, including Mamelodi Sundowns trio, Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe), Dennis Onyango (Uganda) and Keegan Dolly (South Africa).

12 of the 30 footballers play in the English Premier League, including Algeria's Riyad Mahrez who won England's PFA Player of the Year award last season.

List of players nominated for Caf's 2016 African Player of the year award:

    Ahmed Musa - Leicester City (England) and Nigeria
    Andre Ayew - West Ham (England) and Ghana
    Aymen Abdennour - Valencia (Spain) and Tunisia
    Benjamin Mounkandjo - Lorient (France) and Cameroon
    Cedric Bakambu - Villareal (Spain) and DR Congo
    Dennis Onyango - Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Uganda
    El Arabi Hillel Soudani - Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) and Algeria
    Eric Bailly - Manchester United (England) and Ivory Coast
    Hakim Ziyech - Ajax (Netherlands) and Morocco
    Islam Slimani - Leicester City (England) and Algeria
    Itumeleng Khune - Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and South Africa
    John Mikel Obi - Chelsea (England) and Nigeria
    Kalidou Koulibaly - Napoli (Italy) and Senegal
    Keegan Dolly - Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and South Africa
    Kelechi Iheanacho - Manchester City (England) and Nigeria
    Khama Billiat - Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Zimbabwe
    Mbwana Samatta - Genk (Belgium) and Tanzania
    Mehdi Benatia - Juventus (Italy) and Morocco
    Mohamed El Neny - Arsenal (England) and Egypt
    Mohamed Salah - Roma (Italy) and Egypt
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Gabon
    Riyad Mahrez - Leicester City (England) and Algeria
    Sadio Mane - Liverpool (England) and Senegal
    Samuel Eto'o - Antalyaspor (Turkey) and Cameroon
    Serge Aurier - PSG (France) and Ivory Coast
    Victor Wanyama - Tottenham (England) and Kenya
    Wahbi Khazri - Sunderland (England) and Tunisia
    William Jebor - Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) and Liberia
    Yannick Bolasie - Everton (England) and DR Congo
    Yao Kouasi Gervais 'Gervinho' - Hebei Fortune (China) and Ivory Coast