(MENAFN - Morocco World News) Rabat - France Football Magazine has featured Moroccan international superstars Mehdi Benatia, Nabil Dirar and Hakim Ziyech in its 2017 shortlist for the best player in the Maghreb Award. Juventus's key defender Benatia, Ajax's attacking midfielder Ziyech, Fenerbahce's midfielder Dirar have all made the shortlist of the French Magazine. The footballers were selected for their great performances with both their international teams and Morocco's national football team. In a post published on December 30, the magazine said that 'At 30, [Benatia] showed that he is a leader of character with the selection he should lead in Russia as a captain in the next World Cup,' wrote the magazine. The magazine that has selected nine candidates for the prize said that the 31-year old Dirar 'was successful throughout the year.' France Football says in post that Morocco is relying on both Benatia and Dirar in the World Cup. Ziyech, who has been targeted by many international football clubs, is also included in the list. The Ajax's key midfielder has been recently linked to a move with Inter Milan for a EUR 15 million. Italian news outlet reported that the footballer might leave Ajax for the Italian giant this winter. The magazine selected nine players of the Maghreb, including three players from Algeria and three others from Tunisia. For Tunisia, the magazine picked up Wahbi Khazri, Ali Maaloul and Youssef Msakni. France Football then selected Faouzi Ghoulam, Sofiane Hanni and Riyad Mahrez from Algeria, Mahrez was the 2016 best player in the Maghreb, according to the magazine's previous season of the award. The vote has started on Saturday, December 30. In order for people to vote for their favorite player, the magazine made available a polling section on its official website Francefootball.fr."

MENAFN3112201701600000ID1096295178