Abuja, Jan 8 (IANS) Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been crowned Africa’s footballer of the year 2015 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The crowning of Aubameyang late on Thursday as Africa’s best footballer in the year 2015 at a well-attended gala held in the Nigerian capital Abuja was the high point of the event which had top football functionaries, including FIFA acting president Issa Hayatou who doubles as CAF president in attendance, reports Xinhua.
The Gabonese, currently a top scorer in the German Bundesliga, was nominated in that category alongside four-time African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City, and Andrew Ayew of Ghana and Swansea City FC in the English Premier League (EPL).
In the women football category, Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit, was also crowned female footballer of the year.
Nigeria’s duo of Victor Osimhen and Oghenekaro Etebo, who both play in the country’s Under-23 team, respectively won the Youth Player of the Year and Most Promising Talent awards at the ceremony.
Cameroon won the Women Team of the Year award, while Cote d’Ivoire won the same award in the men category. Cote d’Ivoire’s trainer Herve Renard won the coach of the year award.
Bakary Papa Gassama of Gambia also won the Referee of the Year award.
The African Legend award presented to Kumi Gyamfi of Ghana, but Samuel Mbappe Leppe of Cameroon was unavailable to receive his own award.
T.P. Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo won the African Inter-Club Team of the Year award, among other honorary winners at the ceremony.
The ceremony is one of the most anticipated footballing events in Africa, in which illustrious sons and daughters of the continent, who have excelled in soccer or administering football the previous year, are given recognition. This year’s edition is the 44th award ceremony since its commencement by CAF.
