By Innocent Mbunwe
Indomitable Lions and Barcelona striker, Samuel Eto'o and compatriot, Carlos Kameni of Espanyol FC of Barcelona have been voted amongst the CAF Best 2008 team.
This decision was made public on Tuesday, February 10, in Lagos, Nigeria, during CAF's traditional awards ceremony that was attended by FIFA boss, Joseph Sepp Blatter, UEFA President; French born Michel Platini, and other football stakeholders.
The CAF Best XI comprises goalkeeper, Carlos Idriss Kameni (Espanyol and Cameroon), Defenders, Wael Gomaa (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Ismail Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille and Nigeria), Joseph Yobo (Everton and Nigeria), John Mensah (Olympique Lyon and Ghana).
Midfielders, Mohamed Aboutreika (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana), Yaya Toure (Barcelona and Cote d'Ivoire), Ali Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan and Ghana) while as attackers we have Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona and Spain) and Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo).
Cameroon failed to win awards though they were contesting in a series of titles in the likes of the Best National team; Stephane Etoundi Mbia was nominated in the Best Young Player Award and lost to Salomon Kalou of Cote d'Ivoire, Cotonsport nominated in the Best Club trophy, its coach, Alain Guedou Oumbledon in the Best Coach, Marylse Ngo Ndoumbouk in the Best Female Player of the year category.
Adebayor Bags FCFA 10 Million As Africa's Best
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor made history by becoming the first Togolese to be crowned African Footballer of the year.The GLO-CAF African player of the year award, for the first time, carried a cash prize of FCFA 10 million ($20, 000) while runner-up and second runner-up Aboutreika and Michel Essien respectively bagging FCFA 7.5 million ($15, 000) and FCFA 5 million ($10, 000) respectively.
Despite the fact that some soccer experts say the award is controversial, the Arsenal striker beat Egypt and Al-Ahly midfielder, Mohamed Aboutreika and Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien to claim the prestigious individual honour in African football.
While CAF claims that the winner is decided by votes from the head coaches of the National Associations affiliated to the organisation, soccer pundits suggest that it should copy from FIFA, by publishing on its website the criteria that is often used in the nomination in the choice of player and how they were voted.
CAF, it should be recalled, since 2000, has never crowned an African player of the year without agitations from certain quarters.In 2008, Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba was bitter when the award was given to Frederick Kanoute of Mali.
Drogba told the press that he had been tipped as the winner but for the fact that, his national team coach refused to grant him permission to attend the ceremony in Lome, Togo at the climax of the nations Cup in Ghana, his title was ceded to Kanoute because he was present.
Egyptian football emerged the dominant force at the Glo-CAF 2008 Awards. The North African country grabbed five awards, but missed out on the ultimate, Player of the Year won by Adebayor.
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