In reaction to the list that was
released couple of days ago by BBC Sport for their own version of African Player of the Year award 2014; SoccerBreeze
profiles and takes a look into the nominated players respective season and
their eligibility status as regards the upcoming African Cup of Nations to be
staged at Equatorial Guinea in 2015.
PIERRE EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (BORRUSIA DORTMUND & GABON)
The former France U-21
player shot himself to spotlight after playing a lead role in Gabon’s average
outing at the AFCON 2012 (he missed the decisive penalty that eventually sent
them packing, though) which his country co-hosted with Equatorial Guinea.
However, since then his
renaissance has been incredible and hasn’t gone unnoticed – he gained a move at
the start of the 13/14 season from French Ligue 1 side Saint Etienne to
Bundesliga side Borrusia Dortmund. Incredibly, he scored an hattrick - even as
the first Gabonese to ply his trade in the German Bundesliga - on his league
debut.
This will be his second time on the being
shortlisted for the prestigious award.
Famous for his jet-hot
heels and his Spider-Man mask stunt – memorably, on 13 August 2014, in a 2–0
victory over Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup after scoring the second goal,
he celebrated by putting on a Spider-man mask.
The former
AC Milan trainee has so far this season been a shining light in both Dortmund
self-contrasting campaign.
He has since helped his
country in qualifying for AFCON 2015 after failing to spur them through to the
World Cup in Brazil staged earlier this year.
YACCINE
BRAHIMI (F.C PORTO & ALGERIA)
The
gifted attacking midfielder cum winger ensured he kept himself close to
fans heart; after his successful campaign last season at Granada and Algeria in
the Spanish La Liga and at the 2014 World Cup respectively when he scored the
first hattrick of this season’s UEFA Champions League campaign in Porto’s
colour against BATE Borisov.
He’s been characterized
by his amazing dribbling ability, subtle promptings, mazy runs at defence,
technical shrewdness and his ever increasing repertoire of breathtaking goals.
It was no surprise to
see the 24 years old shortlisted for the prestigious award for the first time as
he had enjoyed a breakthrough season at Granada and was rewarded for his
exploits in the Spanish league as he deservedly scooped the 2013/14
La
Liga's best African player award.
Similar virtuoso
performances at the World Cup also earned Brahimi a £5.1m (6.5m euros) move to
Portuguese champions, F.C Porto – he also has reveled in Portugal, as he’s
continued from where he stopped by scoring six goals and made four assists in
14 matches.
Brahimi also ensured
Algeria an early ticket to Equatorial Guinea by contributing two goals and an
assist in five matches.
VINCENT
ENYEAMA (LILLE LOSC & NIGERIA)
The Nigerian remarkable world-class
feat last season led him to being nominated for the BBC Player of the Year
award.
However, it has not been easy hitting
the strides for the 32-year old goalkeeper as he’s really had to persevere.
After Enyeama’s successful spell at Israeli giants Hapoel Tel Aviv;
astonishingly dispatching 23 penalties and free-kicks, the former Enyimba
shotstopper gained a move in the summer of 2011 to French side Lille amidst
interest from Portugal, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine, but the move was temporarily short-lived as
he faced a stern competition in French legend Michael Landreau.
He then opted for a revival when he
returned to Israel but this time with Hapoel’s arch-rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Initially, the move stirred up the air in Israel, as Hapoel fans had problems
letting go. Enyeama returned to France an Israeli double champion.
He returned to the Ligue 1 last season
an intrepid fashion and cemented his place unrivaled between the sticks for
Lille as he most times majestically single-handedly took out opposing sides. He
then went to set a record 21 clean sheets (11 consecutively in the French
league) – more than any other goalkeeper in the European top five league.
He was deservedly rewarded as he
became the first goalkeeper and Nigerian to be named French Ligue 1 African
Player of the Season (the Marc-Vivien Foe prize).
At country level he has also been a vital cog, his displays of
sharp reflexes, impossible saves and quick responses helped Nigeria cause in
winning the AFCON 2013 which was immediately followed by strings of average
performances at the FIFA Confederation Cup and two Man-of-the-match feats at
the World Cup in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Added to his ‘spot-kick saving collection’ by saving Congo
striker Thievy Bifouma’s penalty to hand Nigeria a leg in Equatorial Guinea.
Identified as a pacesetter, Enyeama would also become the first
goalkeeper to claim the BBC African Footballer of the Year Award.
GERVINHO (AS ROMA & IVORY COAST)
The Ivorian star is currently churning
out performances Arsenal gaffer, Arsene Wenger would have hoped for after he
won the battle for Gervinho’s signature from the then Ligue 1 Champions, Lille
LOSC.
Gervais Yao Kouassi as he’s
infamously known, last season found the sort of form he displayed under his
present Coach Rudi Garcia at Lille in Rome. Under Garcia, his revival has hit
the greatest tide as he was instrumental in his team’s resurgence – his 12
goals and numerous assists were instrumental in AS Roma qualification to this
season UCL which they last qualified for in the 07-08 season and they were
beaten to the Italian Scudetto only by Juventus.
Gervinho will also be remembered on
the world stage for his Maradona-esque goal in his country’s 2-1 loss to
Colombia in Brazil and was one of the few standout performers in Ivory Coast
World Cup campaign. He’s expected to be a formidable part of the post Golden
generation era alongside Swansea City hitman Wilfried Bony.
He has since continued this season
where he stopped last campaign with his new Argentine partner-in-crime Juan
Iturbe and the legendary Franceso Totti.
Cote’
d’Ivoire only increased their chances of AFCON 2015 qualification with a 5-1 drubbing of
Sierra Leone with only a match to play as Gervinho grabbed the fourth goal in
that game.
YAYA TOURE (MANCHESTER CITY & IVORY COAST)
The reigning BBC African Footballer of the Year, once as always
played himself into the shortlist for the sixth time.
Toure played a pivotal role in helping the Citizens to a double
last season – the second EPL title in 3 years and the Capital One Cup. A box to
box, Toure boasts an impressive goalscoring record, scoring 24 beautifully
taken goals last season which included varieties of sumptuous free-kicks and
solo goals.
The former Barcelona midfielder who is better known for his
dominating and imposing figure on the pitch also showed the opposite, as he had
his impact diminish at the World Cup in Brazil and early this season. However,
all was credited to the upshot the unfortunate death of his younger brother had
on him – he hasn’t been spared the stick either.
The 31-year old has had unrivaled success at club level,
clinching two Spanish league titles, two Premier League crowns, a Champions
League title, a Uefa Super Cup and a Fifa Club World Cup but at the national
stage he has failed to claim an honour with Ivory Coast. He need not to be told
his time at the Elephants’ fore is fast running.
His country is also on the verge of losing out on the trip to Equatorial
Guinea.
He’s also perceived to be in pole position to win the BBC award
as he is the only African on the 23-man shortlist for the Fifa World Player of
the Year award.
The
winner will be decided by fans of African football, who have until 18:00 GMT on
Monday, 24 November to vote for their choice
Or to vote for BBC African Footballer of the Year
2014 by SMS, text the number of the player you wish to vote for to
+447786202008.
·
Text 1 for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
·
Text 2 for Yacine Brahimi
·
Text 3 for Vincent Enyeama
·
Text 4 for Gervinho
·
Text 5 for Yaya Toure
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