CAF President Ahmad (second from right) during the pre-award night Media parley | Credit: CAF Online
The hope of African footballers who ply their trades not outside the shores of the continent have been dashed as the governing body of African Football Wednesday Scrapped the award for their category.
The decision to scrap the Africa-based Player award came just as the stage has already been set for the 2017 edition of CAF Award in Ghana.
CAF President, Ahmad in a pre-award night presser, declared the category had been scrapped because there could not be anyother best or “ two levels of football in Africa.”
Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi – the only Nigerian on the list – was in the running list for this year’s “home based” award, but, with this development he could solemnly ditched whatever hopes he nursed for an honour.
In the words of Ahmad, “There’s no two levels of football in Africa. Best is best, not best for the bad or best for the best. That’s the reason.”
He added, “It’s very simple – we want to promote African football.”
CAF had introduced the category in order to balance out what it realised was a lopsided yet more illustrious African Player of the Year award i.e having the AFCON and CHAN.
However, it is not clear if the decision enjoyed a consensus in Ahmad’s power bloc.
But, before bed time there will be an answer to the question on who would be the next African football king?
In the race for the crown are; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Award for footballer of the year comes up in Accra, Ghana
