Victor Moses, Mikel Obi, Utaka, 31 others shortlisted for CAF African Footballer of the Year

A preliminary list of 34 African players, who are nominees for the 2012 CAF African Footballer of the Year, has been released. And it features three Nigerians – Victor Moses and John Mikel Obi (Chelsea) and John Utaka (Montpellier).


Mikel Obi, featured prominently, as the Blues won the Champions League and the FA Cup, while John Utaka, was part of the Montpellier team that beat high spending PSG to the Ligue 1 title. Moses was a key player, as Wigan Athletic avoided relegation last season, before linking up with Mikel at Stamford Bridge.

According to CAF’s website: “The GLO-CAF Awards Gala 2012 will be held in Accra, Ghana at the Banquet Hall, State House on December 20th.

“This year has seen three players make it on both lists. Zambia duo of Rainford Kalaba and Stoppila Sunzu from club side TP Mazembe join Tunisian, Youssef Msakni from club side Esperance on the African Footballer of the Year list which is largely dominated by African players playing club football outside the continent.

“The selection was based on performances for club and country. CAF will announce the top ten nominees for the African Footballer of the Year and the top five African footballer of the Year (based in Africa) by late October after the voting by CAF relevant Standing Committees, namely the Media, Technical and Football committees.

“The names of the respective ten and five finalists will be sent to National Association head coaches and secretary generals to select the top three.

“The other categories for which winners will be announced on Awards Gala are as following:

1. National Team of the Year
2. Women’s Footballer of the Year
3. Women’s National Team of the Year
4. Club of the Year
5. Most Promising Talent of the Year
6. Coach of the Year
7. Referee of the Year
8. Legend Award
9. Fair Play Award
10. Platinum Award
11. Africa Finest XI

The list of 34 includes: Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe & Morocco), Adel Taarabt (QPR & Morocco), Alain Sibiri Traore (FC Lorient & Burkina Faso), Alex Song (Barcelona & Cameroon), Andre Ayew (Marseille & Ghana), Aroune Kone (Wigan & Ivory Coast), Aymen Abdennour (Toulouse & Tunisia), Bakaye Traoré (AC Milan & Mali), Cheick Ismael Tioté (Newcastle & Ivory Coast), Christopher Katongo (Henan Construction & Zambia), Demba Ba (Newcastle & Senegal), Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua & Ivory Coast), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese & Ghana), Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton & Zambia), Foxi Kethevoama (FC Astana & Central Africa Rep.), Gervais Lombe Yao Kouassi (Arsenal & Ivory Coast), Hilaire Roméo Verdi Momi (Le Mans & Central African Rep.), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea & Nigeria), John Utaka (Montpellier & Nigeria), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus & Ghana), Moussa Sow (Fenerbahçe & Senegal), Nicola N’koulou (Marseille & Cameroon), Papiss Demba Cissé (Newcastle & Senegal), Pape Moussa Konaté (FC Krasnodar & Senegal), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Laval & Gabon), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe”), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow & Ivory Coast), Seydou Keita (Dalian Aerbin & Mali), Sofiane Feghouli (Almeria & Algeria), Stoppila Sunzu (TP Mazembe & Zambia), Victor Moses (Chelsea & Nigeria), Yaya Toure (Manchester City & Ivory Coast), Younes Belhanda (Montpellier & Morocco), Youssef Msakni (Esperance & Tunisia).

Yaya Toure, who is Manchester City’s midfield anchor, won the 2011 award.