Gabonese striker named Africa's footballer of the year

Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was late Thursday crowned Africa's footballer of the year 2015 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The crowning of Aubameyang as Africa's best footballer in the year 2015 at a well-attended gala held in the Nigerian capital Abuja was the high-point of the event which had top football functionaries, including Issa Hayatou, acting president of FIFA, who doubles as president of CAF, in attendance.

The Gabonese, currently a top scorer in the German Bundesliga, was nominated in that category alongside four-time African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure of Cote d'Ivoire and Manchester City, and Andrew Ayew of Ghana and Swansea City FC in the English Premier League.

In the women football category, Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit, was also crowned female footballer of the year at the African foremost football awards ceremony annually organized by CAF.

Nigeria's duo of Victor Osimhen and Oghenekaro Etebo, who both play in the country's U23 team, respectively won the Youth Player of the Year and Most Promising Talent awards at the ceremony.

Cameroon's female national team won the Women Team of the Year award, while Cote d'Ivoire won the same award in the men category. Cote d'Ivoire's trainer, Herve Renard, won the coach of the year award.

Bakary Papa Gassama of Gambia also won the Referee of the Year award.

The African Legend award presented to Kumi Gyamfi of Ghana, but Samuel Mbappe Leppe of Cameroon was unavailable to receive his own award.

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo won the African Inter-Club Team of the Year award, among other honorary winners at the ceremony.

The ceremony is one of the most anticipated footballing events in Africa, in which illustrious sons and daughters of the continent, who have excelled in soccer or administering football the previous year, are given recognition. This year's edition is the 44th award ceremony since its commencement by CAF.

Source: XINHUA