CAF announces shortlists for African Awards 2012

The Confederation of African Football (CAF ) announces the list of ten nominees for the African Player of the Year Award and the five players remaining in the run for Africa- based Player of the Year . CAF’s Technical , Football and Media committees decided on the current shortlists which will now be passed on to head coaches and technical directors from CAF member associations whose votes will decide the eventual winners.  CAF will announce the top three in the last week of November. Ivorian Yaya Toure was voted 2011 African Player of the Year while Tunisian Oussam Darragi was crowned last year’s  African Player of the Year- Based in AfricaThe winners will be unveiled at a ceremony on 20 December in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
African Player of the YearTop Ten Players ListAlexander Song
Date of Birth: 09 September  1987
Club: Barcelona (Spain)
Country: Cameroon
Cameroon born international was voted in second place as Arsenal player of the season by the fans. The defensive midfielder had a hand in vital goals scored by Arsenal in 2011-2012 season. Left for Barcelona in August 2012 after 204 appearances and 10 goals for Arsenal. He is a member of the Cameroon national team.Andre Ayew
Date of Birth: 17 December 1989
Club: Marseille (France)
Country: Ghana
The Ghanaian winger played 39 times for his French side Marseille and scored on 16 occasions in 2011- 2012 season. He was part of Black Stars team that reached the semi-finals of the 2012 AFCON finals before finishing fourth overall. Has already scored four goals in 12 matches for his club in the current 2012-2013 season.Christopher Katongo
Date of Birth: 31 August 1982
Club: Henan Construction (China)
Country: Zambia
The Zambian national team captain led his charges to their country’s first African title at 2012 Gabon- Equatorial Guinea finals. The striker was voted the Player of the Tournament at 2012 AFCON finals. Katongo has continued to score crucial goals for Zambia in both qualifiers for 2013 AFCON and 2014 FIFA World Cup. Has scored 19 goals in 74 appearances for Zambia to this day.Demba Ba
Date of Birth: 25 May 1985
Club: for Newcastle United (England)
Country: Senegal
The Senegalese striker scored 16 goals in 36 appearances for Newcastle United in the English Premiership. His goals in the qualifiers helped Senegal reach 2012 AFCON finals. Demba Ba was voted the best signing of 2011-2012 season by managers in English Premiership. Finished club top goal-scorer and has so far scored 6 goals in 7 games in the new 2012-2013 season.Didier Drogba
Date of Birth: 11 March 1978
Club: Shanghai Shenhua (China)
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
The Ivorian striker had an eventful 2011-2012 season with both club and country. He scored the equalizer and winning penalty to give Chelsea the European Champions League title and missed a penalty in 2012 AFCON final during regulation time. His goals took Ivory Coast into 2012 AFCON finals were they finished up second to Zambia. Scored the winning goal in FA cup final for Chelsea in what became his last season with the English club before he signed for Shanghai Shenhua in China.Gervais Lombe Yao Kouassi
Date of Birth: 17 May 1987
Club: Arsenal (Englan)
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
The Ivorian striker was part of the national side that reached 2012 AFCON final and it was his goal from a solo run from his own half that beat Mali in the semi-final. His club performance was unfortunately not matched by his national success in 2011-2012 season but he has started 2012-2013 club season with a bang, scoring four goals in 6 games.John Obi Mikel
Date of Birth: 8 January 1982
Club: Chelsea (England)Country: Nigeria
The Nigerian midfielder scored more success with club than country winning European Champions League and an FA title with Chelsea. The success was however not replicated at national level and Obi’s Nigeria failed to make it to 2012 AFCON finals.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Date of Birth: 18 June 1989
Club: Saint Etienne (France)Country: Gabon
The Gabonese striker has had an impressive season with both club and country. His goals to co-hosts Gabon to the quarter finals of 2012 AFCON. He finished joint top goal scorer in that competition with 3 goals and his 18 goals from 38 matches for Saint Etienne made him a favourate with club fans. He has scored 4 goals from 6 matches so far this season 2012-2013  Yaya Toure
Date of Birth: 13 May 1983
Club: Manchester City (England)
Country: Cote d I’voire
The Ivorian midfielder and reigning African Footballer of the year had another stellar season in 2011-2012. His box to box runs have become trade-mark for club and country and made Yaya an important player. He scores 9 goals in 43 games for Manchester City and helped the club win the English Premiership title in 44 years. He was voted in the PFA Premier League team of the year 2011- 2012 season. With Ivory Coast Yaya was part of the team that blitzed its way to the 2012 AFCON finals before losing the final on penalties to Zambia. He scored in a 3-0 win over co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in the quarter finals. Younes Belhanda
Date of Birth: 25 February 1990
Club: Montpellier (France)
Country: Morocco
The Moroccan player who plays as midfielder or winger had a brilliant 2011-2012 season with his French Ligue 1 side, Montpellier. He made 31 appearances and scored 13 times in a storming league campaign that ended with Montpellier crowned French champions. Belhanda was voted into the team of the season and won the award of the best Young player of the year 2011-2012 season. He was part of Morocco national team at 2012 AFCON finals and scored in a 1-0 win over Niger. African Player of the Year – Based in AfricaTop 5 Players List
Mohamed Aboutreika
Date of Birth: November 7, 1978
Club: Al-Ahly (Egypt)
Country: Egypt
At 33, Aboutreika is still at his peak and has yet to lose his shine. Regarded a legend at Ahly, the influential midfielder has been the driving force behind the Egyptian giants continental campaign this term. His hat-trick against Stade Malien at the 1/8 th round sealed their passage into the mini-league stage. The veteran midfielder has scored six time in their campaign this season. He also featured for the Egyptian team in their abortive campaign during the qualifying rounds of the CAN 2013.Rainford Kalaba
Date of Birth: August 14, 1986
Club: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Country: Zambia
The petit midfielder was engine of the Zambian team that won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The fact his colleagues call him ‘master’ is not for nothing as he single-handedly carried the team on his tiny shoulders, and no wonder he was named in the All Star team of the tournament. Kalaba has maintained consistency as he remains the key pillar of his club TP Mazembe. The midfielder is currently in the form of his life as he is experiencing his best spell yet for club and country.Stoppila Sunzu
Date of Birth: June 22, 1989
Club: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Country: Zambia
One of more than five Zambian players with Congolese side TP Mazembe, Stopilla has been in great form this year. He was one of the Zambia’s best players in their triumph at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea where he converted the final kick that landed his team the trophy. After the tourney, he has featured prominently in 2013 Orange CAN qualifiers and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Stoppila has also been regular for his club, TP Mazembe.Yannick N’Djeng
Date of Birth: March 11, 1990
Club: Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
Country: Cameroon
N’Djeng has been phenomenal form this year for his club, Esperance. The 22-year old scored 15-times in the Tunisian league as Esperance cruised to the title. He has also been pivotal in the continental campaign netting four times so far. He is in reckoning for the best foreign player in Tunisia this season.Yousse Msakni
Date of Birth: October 28, 1990
Club: Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
Country: Tunisia
Msakni needs no introduction having signed up in grand style with the Tunisian national team at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The youngster scored twice at the group phase as the Tunisian team exited at the quarter final stage. He has maintained his flying form for Esperance, scoring 17-goals as they clinched the Tunisian Premier League title, finishing as top scorer. The 21-year old has agreed to join Qatari side Lekhwiya next January in an Arab record deal of 14 Million Euros.The other categories for which winners will be announced on Awards Gala are as following:1.  National Team of the Year2.  Women’s Footballer of the Year3.  Women’s National Team of the Year4.  Club of the Year5.  Most Promising Talent of the Year6.  Coach of the Year7.  Referee of the Year8.  Legend Award9.  Fair Play Award10.  Platinum Award11.  Africa Finest XI