Potential kings of Africa

Five Egyptians have been nominated for Africa's Player of the Year but Alaa Shahine sees no reason why anyone of them should be chosen
Five Egyptians are included among 42 footballers vying for Africa's Player of the Year award, but because of the stiff competition and the modest achievements of the Egyptians, they must be considered rank outsiders for the title.
Pessimism about the chances that any of the Egyptians will secure a place even in the Top Five is not unfounded. The year 2001 has been anything but rosy for Egyptian football, with the country's national side crashing out of the World Cup qualifiers and failing to defend their title in the African Cup of Nations in Ghana and Nigeria.
The only ray of light shone on the youth national team which came in third in the World Championships in Argentina in July, an achievement that helped one Egyptian, Mohamed El-Yamani, be nominated for the award. However, a car crash shortly after the tournament ended has since sidelined El-Yamani, who plays for Belgian club Standard Liege, putting his chances for the coveted title in serious doubt.
Besides El-Yamani, Egypt's representatives are Hossam Hassan, Hani Ramzi, Ahmed Hossam and Ibrahim Said. Unlike El-Yamani, though, none have led their club or country to any achievement of note this year. In Germany and Holland respectively, Ramzi and Hossam, while permanent fixtures on their clubs, are not serious contenders given their team's overall position in the standings. Said, an Ahli defender, was suspended for six months for absconding from his club. His infamous escape from Ahli has probably already cost him the title since discipline and sportsmanship are two of the criteria upon which the award is based. And because of injuries and friction with the coach, Hossam Hassan missed most of Egypt's qualifying campaigns in both the World Cup and African Nations Cup.
History, too, has not been kind to Egyptians seeking the prize. In 1983, Mahmoud El-Khatib became the only Egyptian player to be named Africa's best. The poll gave the nod to El-Khatib after he helped his club Ahli clinch the African Champions League trophy.
In 1998, Hossam Hassan come in fourth after guiding Egypt to the African Cup of Nations trophy by scoring seven goals that placed him as the championship's top marksman along with South Africa's teenager Benedict MacCarthy. However, the title eluded Hassan, going instead to Morocco's Mustafa Hadji following his exploits in the 1998 World Cup finals.
"What happened to me and to my country was totally unfair," Hassan told reporters at that time. "I expected to win the title and I doubt that any Egyptian will come this close in the near future," he added.
The prediction proved right on the money. No Egyptian has come even close to the crown since. In 1999, the title went to Nigeria's wonderboy Nwanko Kano, while Cameroon's Patrick Mboma was the clear winner last year after leading his country to the African crown and the gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
This year, three players stand out as favourites. Ghana's Samuel Kuffour has been the linchpin for European and German league champions Bayern Munich. Mohamed Kallon of Sierra Leone is enjoying a super season with Inter Milan where he has been used as a replacement for the injured Brazilian great Ronaldo. Perhaps the hottest favourite is Senegal's Al-Hadji Diouf, scorer of two hat-tricks that helped his country qualify for their first-ever World Cup and a key player for French league leaders Lens.
The choice of some players on the list has been dubious. Olivier Tebily of Cote d'Ivoire has hardly played for Celtic over the past two years. And Nigeria, which boasts some of the best players on the continent, could come up with only two. One is John Otaka who, apart from shining with Egyptian outfit Ismaili the past two seasons, is a virtual unknown and has never played on his country's national side.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Director Vekin Heragia defended the selection process. "This is not a compulsory list," Heragia told Al-Ahram Weekly. "Its sole purpose is to help the panelists choose. But they can choose other names and that did happen in two of the votes we have received so far," he added.
Up until 1993 the poll was conducted by France Football magazine, but the publication has since bowed to the CAF which has set up its own awards event. Those involved in the selection process are members of CAF's technical and press committee.
The deadline for casting final ballots is 25 November. The list will then be trimmed down in December and the winner will be announced at the African Soccer Awards ceremony in South Africa in March or April 2002.
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