The announcement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the awards ceremony for the best players in African football sounds exciting. The event is scheduled to take place on January 9, 2014, in Lagos, Nigeria. This marks the third time that Nigeria has hosted the ceremony, with previous editions held in Abuja in 2005 and Lagos in 2008.
One of the highlights of the ceremony will be the election of the best African player of the year, succeeding Ivorian Yaya Touré, who claimed the title in the previous two years in Accra, Ghana. The Manchester City midfielder outperformed his compatriot Didier Drogba and Cameroonian Alexandre Song in the 2013 edition.
The awards ceremony will encompass a total of 13 distinctions, showcasing the excellence in continental football. These distinctions include recognitions for the best player operating in Africa, men’s and women’s national teams of the year, the best club, fair play trophy, best coach, best hope, best referee, CAF Legends, eleven-guy of the year, and the CAF Platinum Award.
It’s an event that brings together the elite of African football, celebrating outstanding achievements across various categories and recognizing the contributions of players, coaches, and teams to the continent’s football landscape.