Ghana forward Andre Ayew says his hard work this season for his country and French side Marseille resulted in him being voted best African player in France’s Ligue 1.

Ayew, 25, finished in front of Ivory Coast’s Max Gradel (Saint-Etienne)and Tunisia’s Aymen Abdennour (Monaco) for the highly recognised award in France on Monday night.

The winger — a member of the Ghana side that lost to Ivory Coast 9-8 on penalties in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final — was picked by a jury of journalists and received the Marc-Vivien Foe Trophy handed out by French radio station RFI and TV channel France 24.

“I am very honoured to have received such a prize,” said Ayew, whose father Marseille legend Abedi Pele was African footballer of the year three times.

“It’s not just anything for an African player in France. France has had a lot of good African players.

“I have often been close to winning it and this year was the good one. It just proves I have to work even harder… Only work pays.

“It’s been a good season. Maybe one of my best. I’ve improved a lot. I am happy but I can do better and work harder to improve even more.”

Ayew, who played in both the 2010 and 2014 World Cup finals, said that next Saturday’s match which will be his final one for Marseille after over a decade at the club.