Disaster as shambolic CAF snubs Ayew in final shortlist for African Player of the Year award

Published on: 05 December 2012

CAF’s African Player of the Year award descended into a farce on Wednesday when Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew was dropped from the final three-man shortlist for the gong.

Dubious nominations by CAF, which have scandalized the award for many years, hit a new low when Cameroon midfielder Alex Song, who achieved absolutely nothing this year, was named in the final three.

He will compete against Ivorian striker Didier Drogba and his compatriot Yaya Toure for the top prize.

This naming of the final three comes quick on the heels of the condemnation CAF received when they excluded Zambia captain Chris Katongo, who played a pivotal role in the Chipolopolo’s winning the Africa Cup of Nations title for the first time early this year.

The naming of Song in the final three is likely to spark fresh condemnation of CAF while the BBC’s version of award will continue to rise in status and respectability.

Ayew, 22, was in the hunt to claim Africa’s most prestigious personal accolade after being named in an initial five-man shortlist for the award which will be handed out on December 20.

The Olympique Marseille enforcer was however snubbed in the final shortlist in preference to the Ivorian duo of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and surprising of them all, Cameroonian Alexander Song.

Ayew’s snub is another slap in the face of Ghanaian players for global awards following the failure of Christian Atsu and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu to make the shortlist for Europe’s Golden Boy Award and the FIFA Goal of the Year Award respectively.

This means Ghana’s wait to win the African Player of the Year award since Abedi Pele last won it in 1993 is further extended.

This year’s awards ceremony which will be held in Accra, Ghana sees last year’s winner Yaya Toure in pole position to successfully defend his crown against two-time winner Didier Drogba and rookie nominee Alexander Song.

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