And The Glo-CAF African Footballer Of The Year Is…

Towering Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, has been crowned the 2012 CAF African Player of the Year for the second year running in a colorful gala ceremony held last night at the Banquet Hall, State House, Accra, Ghana. the Confederation of African Football has announced.

Ivory Coast Midfielder, Yaya Toure Displaying With His Award
Ivory Coast Midfielder, Yaya Toure Displaying With His Award

The Manchester City player beat fellow Ivorian and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to second place with Cameroonian and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, taking a consolatory third place on his first outing at the Glo-CAF Awards.

The winner of Africa’s most prestigious football player’s plaque and trophy is usually decided by the head coaches or technical directors of the national associations affiliated to the CAF.

The Ivoirian appeared to have his eyes welled up in tears as his name was called at the ceremony in Ghana’s capital.

“I have a lot of emotion,” he said after climbing the stage to accept the award. “I think this night is so special for me.”

It was however not a disappointing night for former Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba who now plies his trade with Chinese clubside, Shanghai Shenhua, despite the fact that he was in line for his third win.

Drogba expressed satisfaction at the outcome as he described his fellow Ivorian as a deserving winner who has played with impressive “consistency over the last two years.”

“Being in competition against Yaya and Alex was for me very difficult,” said the striker. “For me, I don’t mind if Yaya wins. I’m very proud.”

Meanwhile, for the second consecutive year, Nigeria was nowhere to be found as none of her players in both male and female award categories were found deserving of Glo-CAF’s honour as Africa’s Female Footballer of the year went to Equitorial Guinea’s Genovova Anonma.

Below is the list of other winners of several categories of the Glo-CAF 2012 Awards.

-African Player of the Year is Yaya Toure of Cote Divoire

African Based player of the year: First – Mohamed aboutrika of Egypt Second -Stopila Tzunzu (Zambia) Third – Kalaba (Zambia)

-African club of the year is Al-Ahly Football club of Egypt

-CAF’s African coach of the year: Coach Herve Renard of Zambia

-Most promising African Talent of the Year: Mohammed Saleh of Egypt

African Female Footballer of the Year: Winner is Genovova Anonma (Equatorial Guinea)

-Legendary Awards: Mahmoud El-Gohary The Egyptian Coach that passed on in September 2012

-Legendary Awards 2: Rigobert Song most capped African player of the year with over 100 CAPS for Cameroun

-African Referee of the year Jamel Alhamoni

2 COMMENTS