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Run Down Of 2024 Foreign Based Player Of The Year Nominees

The 2024 Best Foreign-based Player of the Year award recognizes the leading player based outside of Zimbabwe who represented the country with distinction and honor at their respective clubs.

The final nominees have been selected based on their performance during the 2024 period. Here is a rundown of the seven selected Nominees in no order:

Abubakar Moffat

Abubakar Moffat has been consistent for CF Motril in the Spanish Segunda Federacio

The 26-year-old versatile box-to-box midfielder has been a key performer for CF Motril in the Spanish Segunda Federacio this calendar year. He has established himself as a regular starter at Motril after joining at the beginning of the season from El Palo where he also made a name for himself by helping them to promotion to the third tier. Although Motril currently going through a rough patch in the league as they end the year in the 6th position, just outside the playoffs position. Baka has remained consistent in the middle of the park giving the team hope to rebound to their best form as they target promotion to the third tier. Baka has so far featured in all 15 matches played in the Segunda Federacio, the fourth tier in the Spanish football league system.

Elvis Chipezeze

Elvis Chipezeze was a key player for South Africa Betway premiership Magesi F.C in their Carling black label knock-out trophy triumph.

The former Warriors goalie has been a consistent performer for South Africa Betway premiership side Magesi F.C.  He was the major reason why Magesi won their historic first major silverware in the top flight league after helping them to lift the Carling black label knock-out trophy at the expense of league giants Mamelodi Sundowns. He also won the best player award in the tournament after scooping man of the match awards in four matches.

Jordan Zemura

Zemura has risen to become one of the key players for both club and country this year.

The lively left-back has been a standout performer for both club and country. The versatile 26-year-old can play on either flank of the field and has turned himself into a more reliable player for Udinese as he helped them to a good start in the Italian Serie A league featuring in 15 league matches scoring a goal and providing two assists where they are currently in 9th position with 23 points after 17 games. He was also key in Zimbabwe Warriors’ Africa Cup of Nations campaign where he helped the nation achieve their sixth qualification to the continental finals.

Tawanda Maswanhise

The former Leicester City Academy player has been a revelation for Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership after a good start this season.

The 22-year-old fast-paced forward is growing in stature in the Scottish premiership where he has been a revelation at Motherwell F.C after signing from Leicester City Academy. Maswanhise has now scored three goals and provided two assists in 14 league matches this season and has been equally the same for Zimbabwe Warriors where the forward made his first start and netted against Kenya, helping the country to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare.

Munashe Garananga

Garananga has become an essential part of both Zimbabwe Warriors and Copenhagen squads due to his outstanding performances at the defense

The 23-year-old defender had an outstanding year as he began the year at Belgian top-flight league side KV Mechelen where he quickly established himself as one of the best signings for the team, playing regularly before being noticed by top Danish Superliga side Copenhagen F.C despite playing only 16 games for the Belgian side. The Danish side paid 10 times the value he was bought for by KV Mechelen a testimony to the fast-rising quality of the player. At Copenhagen, Garananga did not take long to settle and has so far played in 8 matches started in 5, and has won 6 tackles (75%), and 18 ball recoveries helping the team to the top of the log with 33 points from 17 matches, despite suffering an injury setback that made him miss in 9 league matches.

Nyasha Munetsi

Munetsi has been a key figure at Stade Reims and led Zimbabwe Warriors to their sixth Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The tireless midfielder has been the bedrock for French ligue1 side Stade Reims ever since he joined the side in 2018. His tireless work ethic is a big reason why this team has remained in the French top flight since the 2018-19 campaign. His ability to recover possession in good positions. Never shying away from a challenge, Reims’ defensive midfielder has won over 70 duels in the league this season, with at least five possessions won in the final third. To go along with those impressive numbers, he’s racked up over 30 recoveries and is in double-digits regarding interceptions. Meanwhile, he’s had over 40 touches in the opposition’s box in the 2024-25 season, scoring three goals in 14 league matches so far.

Nyasha Mushekwi

Nyasha Mushekwi scooped Chinese League One top scorer award this season after scoring 25 goals in 28 matches.

The veteran forward has been in top form in the Chinese League One this season scoring a record 25 goals in 29 matches for Yunnan Yukun. He has become the League One’s most goal scorer in the past 30 years in the 2024 season. He helped Yunnan Yukun to promotion to the Super League on their first try and scooped the Golden Boot for the second time in the league. He will be aiming to repeat the feat at his newly promoted League One side Dalian Kuncheng which he joined last week.

The winner of Zimbabwe’s best foreign-based player of the year 2024 will be announced on the 1st of January 2025.

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