… Ghanaian duo of Gyan and Asamoah are lined up in the Africa XI squad
President, Ghana Football Association, Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi (left) receiving the 2014 Glo/CAF Platinum Award on behalf of late Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah jointly presented by Globacom’s National Sales Coordinator, Lagos and Mid-West Teritorries, Mr. David Maji and CAF President, Alhaji Issa Hayatou at the 2014 Glo/CAF Awards ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria
Accra, Saturday, Jan 10, 2015:- Ivorian international and Manchester City of England player, Yaya Toure, emerged the Glo-CAF African Footballer of the Year for the fourth consecutive time at the 20th edition of the prestigious continental soccer fiesta Thursday night.
He was crowned Africa’s Best Player at a glamorous ceremony organized by sponsors and African telecommunications giant, Globacom, at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria.
Toure’s emergence dashed hopes of Nigeria’s Vincent Enyama who was widely tipped to become the first goalkeeper to win the award since 1986. The Super Eagles Captain eventually came third, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund was named runner-up to Toure.
The Black Stars duo of Captain Asamoah Gyan and his name sake, Kwadwo Asamoah were named among Africa’s Finest XI for 2014
Gyan, who finished fourth in the race for African Footballer of the Year award, had to console himself with his recognition as one of the best strikers on the continent currently.
He shared that honour with Gabonese marksman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was named as the other striker in the African best eleven squad for 2014.
With his latest victory, Toure has now equalled the record of four Glo-CAF Footballer of the Year Award titles held by Cameroonian striker, Samuel Eto’ Fills. The midfield maestro, however, set a new record for winning the title for four consecutive times. He had won the last three editions in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
(Right to Left) CAF President, Alhaji Issa Hayatou assisted by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, decorating Yaya Toure as the 2014 African Footballer of the Year Award at the award ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria
CAF President, Alhaji Issa Hayatou, and Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, presented the award trophy and certificate to Toure.
As always, the award ceremony was attended by the crème de la crème of African football, including officials, current and former players and administrators, top business executives and entertainment stars.
Winners in other categories include Firmin Mubel Ndombe of Congo DR (Africa-based Player of the Year), National Team of the Year went to Algeria, while Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala emerged as the Women Player of the Year.
WINNERS ALL : Asisat Oshoala (right) clutching the 2014 Glo/CAF Award for African Woman Footballer of the Year and the African Youth Player of the Year Awards and Four-time winner of the Glo/CAF African Footballer of the Year Award, Yaya Toure (left) moments after receiving the awards at the Glo/CAF Awards at Eko Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria
Coach Kheireddine Madooui of Algeria was adjudged the Coach of the Year, while Papa Bakary Gassama of Gmabia was pronounced Referee of the Year, and the Most Promising Talent of the Year which went to Yacini Brahimi of Algeria
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and an ardent sports enthusiast was posthumously awarded the Glo-CAF Platinum Award in recognition of prominent role he played in promoting association football as a sport in his country and on the African continent.
In his message to the continent at the event, Globacom’s Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr, (GCON), expressed his delight with the role played by the company in the giant strides African football is making across the world. He noted that the Glo-CAF Awards had helped raise the standard of the game on the continent, and pledged the company’s commitment to sustain the growth of football in Africa.
On his part, CAF President, Dr. Issa Hayatou remarked that since 2005 when the partnership with Globacom on the Awards began, Glo-CAF Awards has become a medley of football and entertainment with the participation of reputable artistes on the continent.
He noted that this relationship “perfectly portrays a successful union between a first-class sport organization and a commercial enterprise, joined together in a common determination: to elevate African football, rally the youths of Africa, and celebrate Africa.”
The Eko Hotel Convention Centre was electrified by the performances of Hugh Masekela, Lagbaja, Flavour, P-Square, Omawumi, Ghana’s hiplife star Asem, Fally Pupa Hakim from Egypt, Clique d’ Afrique, the Soweto Choir and other African and international artistes.
Credit: Glo Mobile Ghana
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