Andre Ayew earns maiden nomination for Africa Footballer of the Year

On 14th December, 2011, Ghana’s Andre Dede Ayew was named among five players shortlisted by the Technical and Media Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to vie for the 2011 African Footballer of the Year award.

However, Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure beat him to the award.

Ayew, who shot into prominence with an outstanding performance in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and the 2010 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) in South Africa, has since enjoyed significant progress in his career and is one of the key players for French Ligue One side, Olympique Marseille, his club.

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Ayew contested with four time winner, Samuel Eto’o Fills of Cameroon, Seidu Keyta of Mali, Moussa Sow of Senegal and Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire at the Banquet Hall, State House, Accra on 23rd December, 2011, but Yaya Toure won the ultimate.

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CAF Champions League winners, Esperance Sportive de Tunis –Tunisia, Maghreb Association Sportive of Fez – Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco also vied for the Club of the Year Award.

Former Moroccan international Mustapha Hadji and Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha of Nigeria were honoured with the Legend Award.