CAIRO-For the umpteenth time in recent years, no player of the Super Eagles is short-listed for the glamourous award of African Footballer of The Year.
In contrast with what applied in the early 90s, when Rashidi Yekini led Nigerian stars in dominating the elite award, winning in 1993, no
Eagles star is listed for the 2008 roll call.
Ironically, the nominees emerged Tuesday afternoon at a posh ceremony in Lagos, with Yekini expected among the personalities, but he was not there to see his compatriots given the cold shoulder once again.
Rather than have the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Yakubu Aiyegbeni or Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins named on the short list, five names popped up without any connection to the host country of Tuesday’s event.
Instead, Egypt has two – with Amir Zaki of Wigan Athletic (on loan from Zamalek) and Al-Ahly’s Ahmed Aboutrika –listed on the last five.
They will have top compete for December’s final emergence of African Player of The Year 2008 alongside Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal, Cote d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba of Chelsea and Ghana’s Michael Essien, also of Chelsea.
However, a consolation of sort appeared for Nigeria, as Enyimba International of Aba hit man, leading goals scorer in the CAF Champions League, Stephen Worgu was named on the short list for CAF Home-based Player of The Year.
The award for plying their trade on the continent includes Abhoutrika again, as well as Flavio of Angola, Tressor of Congo and Ahmed Hassan of Egypt.
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