CAF African footballer of the year award COMMENTARY DISCUSSES CAF AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR AWARD: IS IT BY NATIONAL TEAM PERFORMANCE, CLUB PERFORMANCE OR BOTH? On January 7, 2016, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja Nigeria, Gabonese and Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was crowned CAF AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR 2016. Ivorian and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure came in second with Ghanaian and Swansea City prodigy Andre Ayew finishing in third place. There have been varied opinions as to who deserved it more. Some pundits and even “lay men” feel with Yaya Toure captaining the Elephants of Ivory Coast to their second ever Africa Cup of Nations title triumph in AFCON 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, as well as helping English Premier League side Manchester City to a second place finish behind Chelsea last season was most deserving of the accolade, which would have been his fifth successive award having won it in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Arguments were also made for the son of the legendary Abedi Ayew Pele, three time Africa Footballer of Year winner in 1991, 1992 and 1993, Andre Dede Ayew. Andre was in swashbuckling form for Olympique Marseille in the French Ligue 1, but was in a much improved form after signing for Swansea City especially when the 2015/16 season got underway scoring in crucial games against Chelsea and Manchester United, with his goal tally now at 6. Under the year in review, he also masterminded the Black Stars journey to the grand finale of AFCON 2015, only to be beaten by Ivory Coast on penalties. Current CAF’s Best Footballer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also has his passionate followers. The young man has justified the faith Borussia Dortmund had in him after prizing him away from AS Saint-Etienne in France. No doubt his exploits at the start of the current campaign raised him above his peers. He is the first player in the history of the German Bundesliga to score in 8 consecutive matches. Aubameyang has scored 18 goals in 17 matches, and has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season. But, at the national team level, The Pathers could not qualify from a group comprising Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso at AFCON 2015. In the last ten years or so, there have been arguments about the choice of CAF Best Players. Some have alleged “conspiracy”, pointing accusing fingers at the powerful francophone bloc at CAF. Sammy Osei-Kuffour back in 2001 claims he was “congratulated” by some CAF Executive Members before the ceremony for winning the award, but strangely the winner eventually on the night was Senegalese El Hadji Diouf. In 2007, Michael Essien at his peak was beaten to the title by Malian Freddie Kanoute. Emmanuel Adebayor in 2008 shockingly won it ahead of Mohammed Abou Treika. Quite interestingly, the BBC African Footballer of the Year award has not generated much controversy as the CAF one. Is it because the BBC award is always spot on, or people do not put much premium on that award as compared to the CAF award? Arguably there is a declining quality in African players compared to 10, 15 or even 20 years ago but CAF must rise up to the occasion. The quality of the Abedi Pele’s, George Weah’s, Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s, Sammy Osei-Kuffour’s, Nwankwo Kanu’s, Roger Milla’s, Kalusha Bwalya’s, Raber Madjer’s, Samuel Opoku Nti’s, Samuel Etoo’s may not be readily available now but CAF can compensate African’s with a BETTER African Footballer Award. Hopefully 2017 will be better. By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamfi Journalist with GTV Sports plus and Radio Ghana GBC