Fans pick Abu Treika the best in Africa Mohamed Abu Treika of Ahli and Egypt has been crowned the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year. The midfield star won the award by an overwhelming majority, taking more than half of the total ballot. More than 155,000 people cast their votes for the BBC award -- the only one of its kind to be decided by football fans around the world. Abu Treika beat the 2007 winner Emmanuel Adebayor, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o and fellow Egyptian Amr Zaki to the title. The award is recognition for a magnificent year for the player, in which he helped his country win the Africa Cup of Nations and his club to take the African Champions League for a record sixth time. "2008 was a tremendous year," Abu Treika told the BBC's African sports programme Fast Track. "It was an opportunity for me and my teammates to be a showcase for Egyptian football across the world." Abu Treika scored the winning goal for Egypt in the Pharaohs' triumph at the Nations Cup in Ghana. He also set up several goals in the final of the Champions League, as Ahli claimed the continental title yet again. "This prize is a wonderful present for me," Abu Treika said. "It's an honour for both Egyptian football and my club Ahli. I am very happy to be this year's winner of the BBC African Footballer of the Year award. "The year 2008 was a tremendous year. It started in the best possible way when we were crowned champions of Africa for the sixth time and ended with a victorious African Champions league season, which I believe we rightly deserved. Overall it was an opportunity for me and my teammates to play attractive football and be a showcase for Egyptian football across the world. "We're going to be put to the test with the challenges of our international duties coming up. Going to South Africa for the Confederations Cup won't be an easy ride and it couldn't get more intense after reaching the final stages of the World Cup qualifiers. We're expecting fierce competition with our group opponents. Our ultimate aim will most definitely be reaching the 2010 World Cup finals. "As long as my "flame of goals" is still lit and glowing I will keep playing football. I'll keep pushing myself to the max. Once that flair has gone, then there will be a time where I will have to stop and realize I've worked hard, achieved my goals and dreams, and say farewell to the game, to the world of football. But so far my goals are still alive, for both my club and my nation," Abu Treika told the BBC. His coach at Ahli, Manuel Jose, said Abu Treika richly deserved his award. "Abou Treika is the key player," he said. "What the other players can't do, he can do. He is a fantastic player and a fantastic person. "I agree with this award because for me he is the best player playing in Africa for the last five years. Every year he is the best." Abu Treika is the second Egyptian to win the award after his club and international colleague Mohamed Barakat, who won in 2005. The Egyptian will be presented his award in a ceremony in Egypt soon. Abu Treika's name also appeared in the final shortlist of the Glo-CAF African Player of the Year awards 2008 which will be announced on 10 February in Lagos, Nigeria. The final three were decided following votes from the head coaches of the 53 national associations affiliated to CAF, the African football federation. The contenders are Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo), Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana) and Abu Treika. The National Team of the Year will be battled amongst Cameroon, Egypt and Nigeria while Ahli (Egypt), Club Sportif Sfaxien (Tunisia) and Coton Sport (Cameroon) compete for the Best Club of the Year. The Best Young Player, meant for footballers under the age of 23 will go to either Salomon Kalou (Chelsea and Cote d'Ivoire), Stephane Mbia (Stade Rennais and Cameroon) or Victor Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan and Nigeria). The women's footballer of the year will be contested among Alice Mattlou (South Africa), Genevova Anonma (Equatorial Guinea) and Ngo Ndoumbouk Marlyse (Cameroon). Alain Oumbledon (Coton Sport), Hassan Shehata (Egypt national team) and Jose Manuel (Ahli) will vie for the Coach of the Year award. For the newly created Glo-CAF Player in Africa, the nominees are Ahmed Hassan (Ahli and Egypt), Flavio Amado (Ahli and Angola), Abu Treika, Stephen Worgu (Enyimba and Nigeria) and Tresor Mputu Mabi (TP Mazembe and DR Congo). A survey conducted by the UK World Soccer Magazine placed Egypt as the fifth best team of the year behind Spain, Manchester United, Zenit St Petersburg, and LDU Quito. Surprisingly, Egypt came ahead of Argentina (7) and Russia (9). In the World Soccer Magazine poll, Egyptian head coach Shehata came fourth in the World Manager of the Year award. Manchester United's Alex Ferguson won the award for the fourth time. Spain's Luis Aragones was second, and Zenit St Petersburg's Dick Advocat was third. Shehata was described by the magazine as one of the few African-born coaches to manage a winning team at the Nations Cup twice. Guus Hiddink's achievements with Euro 2008 semi- finalists Russia was recognised with his fifth place. The famed France Football magazine named the Egyptian national team as the best African team on the continent. In the French magazine poll, Egypt came ahead of Cameroon and Ghana. Shehata was also named best African coach. Amr Zaki, the Egyptian Wigan striker, was voted the best African player in the Barclays Premier League, and Ahmed Hassan was the best player in Africa in a survey conducted by the magazine Al-Ahram Al-Arabi.
