CAF announces top Three for African Player of the Year Award

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announces the top three candidates for this year‘s African player of the year.

Reigning footballer of the year, Ivory coast and Manchester city Midfielder Yaya Toure is joined by fellow Ivorian and national team Captain, Didier Drogba and The Cameroonian midfielder Alexander song.

The winner will be announced later this month on 20th December at the Awards Gala in Accra, Ghana. 

Top Three African Player of the Year 

Alexander Song

Date of Birth: 09 September 1987

Club: Barcelona (Spain)

Country: Cameroon

Cameroon born international was voted in second place as Arsenal player of the season by the fans. The defensive midfielder had a hand in vital goals scored by Arsenal in 2011-2012 season. Left for Barcelona in  August 2012 after 204 appearances and 10 goals for Arsenal. He is a member of the Cameroon national team.

Didier Drogba

Date of Birth: 11 March 1978

Club: Shanghai Shenhua (China)

Country: Cote d’Ivoire

The Ivorian striker had an eventful 2011-2012 season with both club and country. He scored the equalizer and winning penalty to give Chelsea the European Champions League title and missed a penalty in 2012 AFCON final during regulation time. His goals took Ivory Coast into 2012 AFCON finals were they finished up second to Zambia. Scored the winning goal in FA cup final for Chelsea in what became his last season with the English club before he signed for Shanghai Shenhua in China.

 

Yaya Toure

Date of Birth: 13 May 1983

Club: Manchester City (England)

Country: Cote d I’voire

The Ivorian midfielder and reigning African Footballer of the year had another stellar season in 2011-2012. His box to box runs have become trade-mark for club and country and made Yaya an important player. He scores 9 goals in 43 games for Manchester City and helped the club win the English Premiership title in 44 years. He was voted in the PFA Premier League team of the year 2011- 2012 season. With Ivory Coast Yaya was part of the team that blitzed its way to the 2012 AFCON finals before losing the final on penalties to Zambia. He scored in a 3-0 win over co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in the quarter finals.

African Player of the year – Based in Africa

Mohamed Aboutreika

Date of Birth: November 7, 1978

Club: Al-Ahly (Egypt)

Country: Egypt

At 33, Aboutreika is still at his peak and has yet to lose his shine. Regarded a legend at Ahly, the influential midfielder has been the driving force behind the Egyptian giants continental campaign this term. His hat-trick against Stade Malien at the 1/8 th round sealed their passage into the mini-league stage. The veteran midfielder has scored six time in their campaign this season. He also featured for the Egyptian team in their abortive campaign during the qualifying rounds of the CAN 2013.

 

Rainford Kalaba

Date of Birth: August 14, 1986

Club: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Country: Zambia

The petit midfielder was engine of the Zambian team that won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The fact his colleagues call him ‘master’ is not for nothing as he single-handedly carried the team on his tiny shoulders, and no wonder he was named in the All Star team of the tournament. Kalaba has maintained consistency as he remains the key pillar of his club TP Mazembe. The midfielder is currently in the form of his life as he is experiencing his best spell yet for club and country.

 

Stoppila Sunzu

Date of Birth: June 22, 1989

Club: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Country: Zambia

One of more than five Zambian players with Congolese side TP Mazembe, Stopilla has been in great form this year. He was one of the Zambia’s best players in their triumph at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea where he converted the final kick that landed his team the trophy. After the tourney, he has featured prominently in 2013 Orange CAN qualifiers and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Stoppila has also been regular for his club, TP Mazembe.

Source: CAFOnline.com