African champions Ahli have expectedly clinched CAF's Club of the Year Award but star man Mohamed Abou-Treika missed out on the best player (based in Africa) gong. The African football governing body announced the winners of its annual awards in the Glo-CAF ceremony in Accra, with Ahli beating off Tunisia's Esperance and Leopards of Congo. Ahli won a record seventh Champions League title last month at the expense of Esperance, before finishing fourth in the Club World Cup in Japan. The Reds talisman Abou-Treika missed out on the Player of the Year (based in Africa) award, which went to Zambia and Mazembe defender Stoppila Sunzu.
Renard beats Al-Badri Sunzu, who is linked with a January move to Arsenal, was preferred to his club and country teammate Rainford Kalaba. Al-Badri also beaten Ahli boss Hossam Al-Badri was also beaten to the Coach of the Year award, which went to Zambia boss Herve Renard. Frenchman Renard guided the Chipolopolo to a unfancied Africa Cup of Nations title this year, beating giants Ivory Coast in the final in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea. The Zambians have expectedly won the National Team of the Year award at the expense of Cape Verde and Ivory Coast.
