Andre Ayew, the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2011 has saluted the teeming supporters around the world who contributed to his success.

The Ghana and Marseille winger took over a third of the votes to beat Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Samuel Eto'o and Seydou Keita to the crown.

And as he celebrates the award handed to him last Friday at his base in Marseille, Andre in an interview with www.ghanafa.org showed his appreciation to all who have supported him.

"The fans have been absolutely magnificent from the minute I started my career and will never forget the support they have given me," Andre told www.ghanafa.org.

"Wherever I have played, they have been with me and I would also like to thank Ghana as a nation for the way they have supported me. Their support has made me stronger.

"It has been fantastic to receive such a prize and I know the support of my family, teammates, my fans and the entire nation contributed to it."

Andre becomes the fifth Ghanaian to win after his father - Abedi Ayew Pele (1991), Sammy Kuffour (2001), Michael Essien (2006) and last year's winner Asamoah Gyan.