Ghanaian young stars Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana have been dropped from the 40-man shortlist for the 2021 Golden Boy Award race.
Both youngsters were among of the 60-man shortlist following their scintillating displays for Dutch Eredivisie side AFC Ajax Amsterdam and Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjaelland.
The former Nordsjaelland player Mohammed Kudus was hit by a damaging injury which prevented him from showcasing his full potential at his new club in the Eredivisie last season and is yet to make an appearance for Ajax Amsterdam this season after picking an injury during pre-season.
Sulemana on the hand bagged 10 goals for FC Nordsjaelland in the 2020-21 season in Denmark before moving to Stade Rennais this summer transfer window. He has already in the Ligue 1 on his debut.
On the other hand, Ghanaian-born Dutch players Brian Brobbey and Myron Boadu are in highly contested 40-man nominees for the award.
Other players who make the list are PSV’s Noni Madueke, Pedri (FC Barcelona), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Mason Greenwood (Manchester United).
Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland won the award last year and is out of the race for the accolade this time around after winning it the year before.
Tuttosport, a well respected and trusted Italian news agency will reduce the names to 20 next month before the winner is announced in November.