Ghana and Marseille winger Andre Ayew; Mali and Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita plus Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City’s Yaya Toure were named as finalists for the African Player of the Year award on Wednesday by the Confederation of African Football. The top three will, therefore, vie for the continent’s top player prize at a ceremony in Accra, Ghana on Thursday (today).
No Nigerian player made the original long list before it was shortened over the weeks.
Last week CAF made a shortlist of five nominees, but beleaguered Cameroon captain and Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto’o and Lille’s Senegalese international Moussa Souw did not make the final list.
Favourite Ayew who was just two years old when his father won his first award could cement his family’s status as Africa’s foremost soccer dynasty if he emulates his father by becoming the continent’s number one player.
Ayew’s father Abedi Pele was the first player to win the award three times, winning from 1991 to 1993 mainly for his achievements at club level with Marseille.
Young Ayew’s successful year at the same club, plus his role in helping Ghana qualify for next year’s African Nations Cup finals, see him make the short-list of candidates.
But it is more likely that his popular bow-legged running style and silky touches, strongly reminiscent of his father, has dominated the thinking of the judges,
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