It was a night billed as the oscars of African Football, and it didn’t disappoint at all, as the star-studded gala for the Glo-CAF end of year award ceremony took off in style at the magnificient International Conference Centre in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

As the night grew on, the centre slowly filled with some of the continent’s big-wigs, from local and continental celebrities to some of the biggest names in world sports, particularly football -stars past and present as well as other spheres of life, such as business, politics and entertainment. All converged to witness a night set aside to honour and acknowledge football personalities and their exploits during the year.

The event, sponsored by Nigerian telecommunication giants, Globacom, was not just a night to celebrate and reward sporting excellence, but also to showcase the beauty of the African People and it’s diverse cultures and dances, which were all performed in a superb display of first-class entertainment from outstanding entertainers across different parts of the continent including musical performances by stars such the man with the golden voice – the brilliant Salif Keita (Mali), Shatta Wale (Ghana), Ahmed Soultan (Morocco), Awilo Longomba (DR Congo) and Nigerians King Sunny Ade, Dija, Korede Bello, Flavour, Omawumi, Bez and Ego.

The occasion also exhibited a ravishing allure of  glam and glitz as seen flaunted on stage by Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim, who took the occasion by storm as it’s co-presenter.

She captivated some of the viewers with her fascinating aplomb as comments about her stunning looks went viral on the social media especially on Twitter.

The beauteous Ghanaian had dazed a vast majority of the male audiences watching the event and many could not resist by taking to Twitter to express their pleasure. Some even admitted that they were more attracted to the hostess than the footballers present at the momentus event.

The Moment Of The Night:

However, Juliet’s alluring magical charms were on borrowed time and all attentions were momentarily shifted as the got to it’s most awaited moments, the moment most viewers were waiting for with great anticipation – the announcement of the continent’s best player of the year, which went Borussia Dortmund’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick  Aubameyang, who took over from ManChester City’s Yaya Toure to be crowned as CAF African Player of the Year for the first time.

The 26-year old voted by coaches and technical directors of CAF nations polled 143 points, seven more than Toure with 136 and Ghanaian Andre Ayew’s 112 to be awarded with the most prestigious individual award in African football, which made him the first footballer from his country, Gabon, to win the prize. A feat which ended the four-year reign of Toure from 2011 to 2014 .

The Gabonese star is the Bundesliga’s leading scorer so far this season, with 18 goals in 17 league games and 27 in all competitions. 

On receiving the accolade he thanked his family, team-mates and the Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba, who hailed him as “dazzling intuition” and “an attack of unparalleled velocity”.

Yaya Toure’s Assessment Of The Night:

After receiving his accolade for finishing second, Yaya Toure was visibly unimpressed and clearly disappointed by the outcome on the night and did not take long for him vent his frustration.

The former Barcelona star gave  a scathing assessment of the award process calling it “pathetic”. Toure remarkably likened the perceived injustice of him missing out on the award – which would have taken him above Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o on the list of all-time winners – to the corruption scandals that have engulfed football’s global governing body FIFA over recent months. Saying:

“I am very, very disappointed,” he told Afrique Foot. “It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important.

“I think this is what brings shame to Africa, because to act in that way is indecent. But what can we do about it?

“Us Africans, we don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes. We favour more what’s abroad than our own continent. That is pathetic.

“Even FIFA, with all its history of corruption, wouldn’t do this.”

The Manchester City midfield linchpin has not featured for Ivory Coast since March and now his long-term international future could be in doubt after he insisted that he will look out for himself after being “let down” by Africa.

“Yaya will take care of Yaya and let Africa take care of itself,” he said. “As I’ve been told many times, you can’t take care of Africa too much because Africa will be the first to let you down.

“When I return to Europe, a lot of questions will be asked. I think I’m going to have to answer them. As I’m someone who’s honest, I will always tell the truth.”

Toure did take time to praise Aubameyang’s achievements, adding: “You were brilliant this year.”

Other Award Winners Of The Night:

Starting with the African Player of the Year – Based in Africa, which went to Tanzanian: Mbwana Aly Samatta, who became the first from East Africa to win the coveted prize, reserved for footballers plying their trade on the continent.

Samatta garnered 127 points, ahead of his TP Mazembe teammate and DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Muteba Kidiaba, who amassed 88 points. Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah trailed in third place with 63 points.

Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit was awarded Women’s Player of the Year becoming the first from her country to pick up the prize

Meanwhile it was double delight for the hosts, Nigeria with two prizes, Victor Osimhen – Youth Player of the Year and Etebo Peter Oghenekaro – Most Promising Talent of the Year.

For guiding Cote d’Ivoire to continental glory, former coach Herve Renard was named Coach of the Year and ‘Les Elephants’ as National Team of the Year.

Cameroon scooped the Women’s National Team of the Year prize and DR Congo giants, TP Mazembe, Club of the Year, whilst Gambian Papa Bakary Gassama went home with the Referee of the Year award for the second year running.

Former Ghanaian coach,  Charles Kumi Gyamfi whose son Edwin Gyamfi received the honour of posthumously in the African Legend category on behalf his,  alongside Cameroonian Samuel Mbappe Leppe who was also honoured in thesame category.

THE FULL WINNERS LIST:
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon)
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR – BASED IN AFRICA – Mbwana Aly SAMATTA
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Gaelle ENGANAMOUIT (Cameroon)
YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
MOST PROMISING TALENT OF THE YEAR – Etebo Peter OGHENEKARO (Nigeria)
COACH OF THE YEAR – Herve RENARD (France) – Former Coach of Cote d’Ivoire
REFEREE OF THE YEAR – Bakary Papa GASSAMA (Gambia)
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR – Cote d’Ivoire
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR – Cameroon
CLUB OF THE YEAR – TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
AFRICAN LEGEND
Charles Kumi GYAMFI (Ghana)
Samuel MBAPPE LEPPE (Cameroon)

AFRICA FINEST XI
Goalkeeper: Robert Muteba KIDIABA (DR Congo)
Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia), Mohamed MEFTAH (Algeria)
Midfielders: Andre AYEW (Ghana), Yaya TOURE (Cote d’Ivoire), Sadio MANE (Senegal), Yacine BRAHIMI (Algeria),
Forwards: Mbwana Aly SAMATTA (Tanzania), Pierre-Emerrick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon), Baghdad BOUNEDJAH (Algeria)

Substitutes
Djigui DIARRA (Mali)
Azubuike OKECHUKWU (Nigeria)
Kelechi NWAKALI (Nigeria)
Zinedine FERHAT (Algeria)
Adama TRAORE (Mali)
Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
Kermit ERASMUS (South Africa)