Confederation of African Football (Giza)
21 December 2011
press release
Herewith the profiles of the shortlists for the CAF Awards 2011;
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2011
(a)André Ayew (Olympique Marseille and Ghana)
Date of birth: 17th December 1989
Club: Olympique Marseille (France)
He returned to Olympique Marseille during 2010-2011 season after winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009. Ayew had previously had loan stint Arles-Avignon, which he helped to qualify to the French Ligue 1 Championship. He also helped his team Marseille to a second place finish in French championship, won the League Cup and the Super Cup. He was voted the club’s best player of the season by the fans. He scored his first brace in the European Champions League on September 28, 2011 against Borussia Dortmund and was also pivotal as Ghana reached the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
(b) Seydou Keita (Barcelona and Mali)
Date of birth: 16th January 1980
Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)
In 2011, Keita won his second European title with Barcelona having been at the club since the 2008-2009 season. He also won his third consecutive Spanish league title. He also won the European Super Cup and a runners-up medal in the Spanish Cup. He rejoined the Mali national team during the latter stages of the qualifying series of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after a brief exile, and played an integral in the last game which ensured the team’s qualification.
(c) Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Cote d’Ivoire)
Date of birth: 13th May 1983
Club: Manchester City (England)
After leaving FC Barcelona, Yaya Toure has become one of the most valuable players at English club, Manchester City and reportedly among the highest earners in Premier League. His impeccable ball control, recovery and his intelligent reading of the game enabled him contribute in his team’s success in the FA Cup. He scored the only goal at the semi-final against Manchester United and repeated the dose in the final against Stoke City. He was also one of the key players in Cote d’Ivoire’s successful campaign in the qualifying rounds for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with some goals to his credit.
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2011 (BASED IN AFRICA)
(a) Oussama Darragi (Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Tunisia)
Date of birth: 3 April 1987
Club: Esperance (Tunisia)
Oussama Darragi is an attacking midfielder and captain for Esperance. In the 2011 season, he led his club to a Tunisia double and capped it all with victory in the 2011 CAF Champions League final. He played and won the CHAN tournament with Tunisia and also helped his country reach CAN 2012 finals
(b) Zouhir Dhaouadi (Club Africain and Tunisia)
Date of birth:1st January, 1988
Club: Club Africain
Dhaouadi has been with Tunisian side, Club Africain since 2006 and currently serves as captain. He has been in the form of life steering the campaigns of his club and national team. He was among the star performers for the Tunisian team that won the CHAN title in Sudan in February. The offensive midfielder was among the lead characters as his club reached the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.
(c) Banana Yaya (Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Cameroon)
Date of birth: 29th July 1991
Club: Esperance (Tunisia)
The Cameroon born centre-back won the league title and cup with his Tunisia club side and was also a silver medalists with the Cameroon U-20 team at the African Youth Championship in South Africa. Yaya was part of the Cameroon side that played at FIFA U-20 World Cup reaching round of 16. He also scored some crucial goals for Esperance this season on their way to victory in the Champions League final.
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
(a) Botswana
They were the first team to qualify for CAN 2012 finals after an impressive run in a group that had the likes of Tunisia, Togo and Malawi. Nicknamed the Zebras, Botswana stormed out of the blocks in the race to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea with wins four wins and a draw from the first five matches. With three matches to spare, the Zebras had already sealed their place for the tournament. Botswana, who boasts of many homegrown players, also soared to their highest ranking, 53rd, at the beginning of this year under coach Stanley Tshosane.
(b) Cote d’Ivoire
The Elephants were the only team to reach the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations by winning all matches. A mixture of youth and experience players, they have been impregnable at home and beyond. Their performance saw the remain the continent’s best ranked team for a greater part of the year.
(c) Niger
The Niger national team has had a stellar year where they reached their first continental finals at the CHAN tournament in Sudan. Nicknamed Mena, Niger under the guidance of coach Harouna Doula Gabde emerged from a tough group to make the quarter finals. They went further by qualifying for the CAN 2012 in a group which included defending champions Egypt, 1996 winners South Africa and Sierra Leone.
(d) Tunisia
The North African side mounted a strong challenge towards the end of the CAN 2012 qualifiers which paid off with qualification on the final day. After a shaky start, new coach Sami Trabelsi has revived the fortunes of the team since winning the CHAN tournament after beating Angola in the final. The 2004 African champions will make their 14th appearance at the Gabon and Equatorial Guinea finals.
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
(a) Cameroon
Cameroon women’s team had an excellent year during which they won their first ever All Africa Games title after a 1-0 win over Ghana in the final. They also beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games to crown a fabulous year.
(b) Nigeria
The Nigeria national women’s football teams, nicknamed the Super Falcons were at the 2011 FIFA World but narrow losses to France and hosts Germany killed their dreams. They however bowed out with a lone goal over Canada courtesy a Perpetua Nkwocha strike.
(c) South Africa
Banyana Banyana qualified for their first Olympic football tournament this year. The edged past Ethiopia to seal their place at next year’s event. The South Africans also reached the medal zone of the 2011 All Africa Games held in Maputo, Mozambique.
CLUB OF THE YEAR
(a) Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
The most popular and successful team in Tunisia has had a stellar year winning the treble in 2011. Affectionately known as the “Blood and Gold,” Esperance triumphed over ESS by winning a record 13th President Cup. They also won the Tunisian League before beating Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) of Morocco 1-0 on aggregate to win the 2011 CAF Champions League
(b)Maghreb Association Sportive of Fez (Morocco)
MAS capped a successful with the CAF Confederation Cup title after edging past favourtites Club Africain of Tunisia. Playing in only their second time in the continental club competition, MAS remained formidable with wins at home.
(c) Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
WAC made the most of a second attempt following the disqualification of TP Mazembe by reaching the final. It was their first ever final in a major continental club championship since winning the defunct CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 2002.
MOST PROMISING TALENT OF THE YEAR
(a) Ahmed Elshenawy (El-Masry and Egypt)
Date of birth: 14th May 1991
Club: Al Masry
El-Shenawy rose to continental and global fame after sterling performance with the Egypt U-20 team at the African Youth Championship in 2011 in South Africa. He was named best goalkeeper at the tournament, where Egypt finished third. He continued his exploits at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia but his team did not go far. He has since been capped twice by the Pharaohs including manning the post against Brazil in an international friendly in Doha, Qatar last November. To most Egyptians, he is perfect replacement for goalkeeping legend, Essam El-Hadary.
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