PREVIEW:
The BBC African Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the best footballer across the continent for the year. Voting is done by listeners of BBC Radio and also via SMS and online. The maiden award held in 1991 was won by Ghana and Olympique Marseille's legend, Abedi Ayew 'Pele'. Subsequently, other legends to have also won this noble award include: Emmanuel Amuneke of Nigeria, George Weah of Liberia, just to mention but a few. This year, 2013 has nominees from Gabon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast contesting for this prestigious award. We seek to unveil who really deserves this year's award as we journey on.
THE MEN:
The nominees are :
John Obi Mikel of Nigeria and Chelsea fame, Yaya Toure from Ivory Coast and Manchester City camp, Victor Moses also from Nigeria but on loan from Chelsea to Liverpool, Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang of Borussia Dortmund and Gabon; and Jonathan Pitroipa of Burkina Faso and Stade Rennes.
From a glance, Yaya Toure stands tall considering the fact that, he's the only African footballer to be shortlisted by the game's world governing body FIFA for this year's Ballon d'Or.
Victor Moses also looks worthy of the award. He was Nigeria's 'Messi' in the 2013 AFCON tournament where Nigeria were crowned African Champions with a laudable performance against Ethiopia and also played an instrumental role for Chelsea en route to Europa League glory this year.
AFCON Best Player, Jonathan Pitroipa , single handedly sent Burkina Faso to the finals, an unprecedented feat and also played a crucial role for his French based club with trademark dazzling skills and sumptuous footworks.
Another player worth noting, is Nigeria's John Obi Mikel. It's a shame both his club and national team fans rarely acknowledge the effect and impact this midfield dynamo has on them. An unsung hero indeed. He lead Nigeria to surprising AFCON glory and silenced critics with his best performance in Nigeria shirt at the FIFA Confederation Cup with mouth opening displays and peak of a goal finish against the resilient Uruguay. He also was a stalwart for Chelsea as they won the top European Club trophies in reverse order consecutively. 'The Usain Bolt' of African football and also the 'Neymar' of Gabon football, taking his pace and fanciful hairstyle into account.
Pierre Emerick Aubemayang, has proven that, he's come of age and really a rare breed of talent across the continent. Aubameyang ended the French Ligue 1 season with 19 league goals and also set up the winner in the Coupe de La Ligue final, when St-Etienne won their first major domestic trophy for more than thirty years. His switch to European giants, Dortmund came in a memorable style with a hat-trick against Augsburg. The Gabonesse proved his worth in 2012 AFCON. Known for his lightening pace and flair, he remains my favorite player in the list though am not betting my money on him to win. That's about to be disclosed soon.
THE MAN:
It's time for Africa to give credit at least once to him in his entire career. He remains not a favorite amongst the Chelsea enthusiasts, however he has proven he's maturing season by season. Arguably the best box-to-box midfielder in London, he also has the flair to push forward when with the Super Green Eagles of Nigeria and occasionally scores for them. After Jose Mourinho's first term of office at Chelsea, John Michael Nchekwube Obinna has grown into a first team player and perhaps a starter under the subsequent club managers. Though not a flair-packed holding midfielder like Sergio Busquet or goalscoring Auturo Vidal nor a rugged midfielder like former award winner and club mate Michael Essien in his hay days nor a dynamic one like Bastein Schweinsteger, he certainly contains bits and portions of all those traits. In Chelsea shirt, he exhibits proper shielding when playing the deep lying midfield role infront of the defence and also exhibits his flair when in Nigeria shirt, where he has some level of freedom to join attack. He proved he could be very well, sublime infront of goal against Fulham and Uruguay this year. He steered Chelsea to lifting the Europa League by forming a wonderful partnership with either David Luiz or Ramires under Rafa Benitez this same year. He also powered Nigeria to AFCON glory , this year in a surprising style.
REVIEW:
Though, the Gabonesse still remains my favorite, if there's time to appreciate an unsung hero across the continent, I believe BBC and soccer fans should should look no further than Mikel Obi John. He truly and fairly deserves this year's award at least for his showpiece in the calendar year with both club and national team and also high time, soccer fans appreciate his efforts and impact in the game for once at least, before it's too late.
Obinna indeed, is his father's heart .
