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Soccer News of Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Source: Joy Online

Hayatou praises Ghana ahead of awards

Issa Hayatou, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has credited Ghana for its great organisation of events ahead of this year's Glo-CAF Awards ceremony.

Ghana is hosting the awards ceremony for an unprecedented fourth time after 2006, 2009 and 2011.

The leader of Africa's football governing body made these comments on his arrival on Tuesday night in the country for Thursday's event.

Hayatou was met on arrival by Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi and other CAF executives who had arrived in the country earlier in the day.

On Thursday, December 20, the Banquet Hall in Accra will host the 2012 Glo-CAF Awards, an event that rewards Africa's football personalities for the year under review.

The CAF President says the GFA has always lived up to expectation with its excellent organisation of the event.

"I am delighted that we have come back to Ghana once again for the Glo-CAF Awards. Ghana has always hosted this event very well with good organisation." Hayatou said.

"This is the fourth time the event is being held in Ghana and I have no doubt in my mind that this year's event will live up to expectation."

The spotlight on Thursday will be on the Ivorian pair, Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure as well as Cameroonian Alexander Song, who will are vying for African Footballer of the Year award.

Apart from the African Footballer of the Year, there are several other categories for the awards ceremony.

African Player of the Year 2012 – Based in Africa: Stoppila Sunzu (Zambia, TP Mazembe), Rainford Kalaba (Zambia, TP Mazembe), Mohamed Aboutreika (Egypt, Al Ahly)

National team of the year nominees: Zambia, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast

Women's national team of the year: Equatorial Guinea, Ghana Under-17, Nigeria Under-20

Club of the year nominees: Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia), AC Leopards ( Congo), Djoliba (Mali)

Coach of the year nominees: Herve Renard (Zambia), Hosam El Badry (Al Ahly), Joseph Morius OMOG (AC Léopards, Cameroon)

Most promising talent: Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Basel), Moussa Konate (Senegal and FC Krasnodar), Victor Wanyama (Kenya and Celtic)

Women's footballer of the year: Chinwendu Ihezuo (Nigeria), Genoveva Anoman (Equatorial Guinea), Portia Modise (South Africa)

Referee of the Year: Djamal Alhaimoudi, Diatta Badara, Jedidi Slim

Legend Award: Mahmoud El-Gohari, Rigobert Song