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Ghana duo Andre Ayew and Christian Atsu has been shortlisted to compete for the 2015 Africa Footballer of the year award. The pair were named in a 37-man shortlist released by the Confederation of Africa football (CAF) on Sunday. Both players were selected for vie for the prestigious award after their sterling performance at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea where they helped the Black Stars to win silver after losing to Ivory Coast in the finals. Atsu, 23, was adjudged the best player of the competition in Equatorial Guinea while Ayew won the top scorer award with three goals. Ayew who has been outstanding for English Premier League side Swansea City will thus be looking forward in winning the award for the first time after finishing third behind reigning Africa player of the year Yaya Toure and Malian international Seydou Keita in the 2011 edition of the awards. The 25-year-old who was named the Barclays player of the month in August has been able to bag four goals in eight League appearances for Swansea City this season. The former Olympique Marseille ace has been one of the phenomenon African players abroad this year. CAF is however expected to prune down the list to three who will vie for the prominent accolade in January next year. The two (Ayew and Atsu) has been ruled out of the Black Stars upcoming friendly against Canada after sustaining various injuries.