MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mohamed Salah of Egypt. Sadio Mane comes second and Pierre Emercick Aubameyang comes third. PLATINUM AWARD: Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo, President-elect of Liberia George Weah. WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria. NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR: Egypt YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Patson Daka of Zambia. COACH OF THE YEAR: Hector Cuper, head coach of Egypt CLUB OF THE YEAR: Wydad Athletic of Morocco FOOTBALL LEADER OF THE YEAR: Ahmed Yehia of Mauritania. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR: South Africa U20 team LEGEND AWARD: Sunday Ibrahim of Nigeria.
22:00 Didier Drogba & Carol Tshabalala are the hosts of the ceremony. 21:50 Ghana president delivers a welcome speech. 21:35 CAF President Ahmed addresses the audience. 21:30 Ceremony starts. Ghanaian singer Efya sings the national anthem of Ghana. 20:45 "Personally I want Mane because he's Senegalese and like a young brother to me. But to be honest nobody can compete against Mohamed Salah right now. He has been in great form over the past few months and if he keeps up like this he can be the best in the World," says Senegal's iconic striker El Hadji Diouf. 20:00 The nominees are arriving at the Accra International Conference Centre. 19:00 Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane held a press conference ahead of the ceremony. The Egyptian winger says he and Mane are best friends and are helping each other to become better players. Salah says he wants to become the best Egyptian player ever. (Read Salah's full statements) 18:00 Stats of the three contenders for the African player of the year in 2017 Mohamed Salah: Egypt: 10 matches, 5 goals, 2 assists Roma: 20 matches, 10 goals, 9 assists Liverpool: 29 matches, 23 goals, 8 assists Sadio Mane: Senegal: 7 matches, 3 goals, 2 assists Liverpool: 28 matches, 12 goals, 7 assists Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Gabon: 4 matches, 2 goals, 0 assists Dortmund: 47 matches, 41 goals, 5 assists 16:00 CAF President Ahmed Ahmed explained the scrapping of the category Player of the Year-based in Africa award, confirming he is working to have one day the best African player who plays in Africa. "We felt that a double standard could not be promoted by awarding distinctions for second choice." Ahmed told the post ceremony press conference. "When you aim for excellence, you must rise to the highest standards. The goal is to work for the best players to stay on the continent. One can evolve in Africa and be the best player in Africa. We must create the conditions to keep the best on the continent." he added "I will take the example of Trésor Mputu, who certainly had the talent to go to Europe and be among the best Africans. But the president of TP Mazembe, Moise Katumbi, provided the means to keep him at the club. We are convinced that we can multiply similar situations on the continent and have one day the best African player who plays in Africa." the CAF president concluded. 15:00 CAF President Ahmad Ahmad recalled Ghana's position amongst the pioneers of African football citing Kwesi Nyantakyi – CAF 1st Vice President, Anthony Baffoe – CAF Deputy General Secretary in charge of Technical and Development and Justice Anin Yeboah – Chairman, FIFA Disciplinary Committee as an attestation to the fact. 14:00 Ghanaian Abedi Pele, Nigerian trio, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba, Cameroonian and four-time winner, Samuel Eto'o Fils and compatriot Patrick Mboma, Ivorian Yaya Toure, a four-time winner and countryman Didier Drogba, El Hadji Diouf of Senegal and Algerian Riyad Mahrez all have been invited to attend the ceremony. 13:30 Accra witness the biggest football gathering of the new year as the winners of the African footballer of the year award who represent various generations will be given prominence at the ceremony designed to celebrate the key players of African football.
Below are the top three Nominees for each award: African Player of the Year Mohamed Salah (Egypt - Liverpool) Sadio Mane (Senegal - Liverpool) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon - Borussia Dortmund) Coach of the Year Gernot Rohr (Nigeria) Hector Cuper (Egypt) L'Hussein Amoutta (Wydad Athletic Club) Club of the Year Al Ahly TP Mazembe Wydad Athletic Club National Team of the Year Cameroon Egypt Nigeria Women's Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dalian Quanjian) Chrestina Kgatlana (South Africa & UWC Ladies) Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene(Cameroon & CSKA Moscow) Youth Player of the Year Krepin Diatta (Senegal & Sarpsborg) Patson Daka (Zambia & Liefering) Salam Giddou (Mali & Guidars) Women's National Team of the Year Ghana U-20 Nigeria U-20 South Africa
(All times are GMT+2) (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
