Accra, Dec. 21, GNA – Black Stars midfielder Andre 'Dede' Ayew has moved closest to winning the African Footballer of the Year award after making the top three.

The 22-year old is in contention for the most prestigious individual honour in African football together with Seydou Keita of Mali and Ivorian Yaya Toure.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the top three on the eve of the Awards Gala.

The latest development makes Ayew a strong candidate for the prize with the winner set to emerge among the trio.

His father, Abedi Pele won the award thrice in 1991, 1992 and 1993, then organized by France Football.

Dede Ayew of Olympique Marseille in France was last Friday crowned African Footballer of the Year by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Toure is considered the favourite to take out the award, after helping the Sky Blues lift the FA Cup last season and lead the English Premier League nearing the halfway mark of the current campaign.

Mali midfielder Keita are both considered strong candidates for the award.

The shortlist for the 2011 African Player of the Year was decided by votes of head coaches or technical directors of the national associations affiliated to CAF.

The CAF Technical, Football and Media Committees decided on the choice of shortlists for the other categories taking into account the performance of the nominees from January to November 2011.
The award ceremony is to reward excellence in African football on and off the pitch.

The winner will be announced at the Awards Gala which will be held on Thursday, December 22 at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra.