Al-Ahly duo among top African footballer candidates

 

LONDON (GoPharaohs.com) - The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) announced its shortlist of the top 5 candidates for African footballer of the year award for 2006. Among those 5 candidates are two of Al-Ahly’s star players; Mohamed Abu Treika of Egypt and Cameroon Flavio of Angola. The remaining 3 candidates are Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast (plays for Chelsea), Michael Essien of Ghana (plays for Chelsea) and Samuel Eto’o Fils of Cameroon (plays for Barcelona).

Another Egyptian and Ahly player, Mohamed Barakat, won the BBC’s award last year. The BBC had this to say about Abu Treika and Flavio:

“Aboutrika, whose dying-minute goal ensured Egyptian club Ahly retained their African Champions League trophy this year, was part of his country’s Nations Cup winning squad in February.”

“Flavio was a member of Ahly’s Champions League winning squad and also helped his country to qualify for their first World Cup.”

The fans have their say

Some of the forum members at the ES Forums had this to say:

I’m glad abu treika got nominated. Drogba doesn’t deserve it for last season IMO. Next year he will certainly be more deserving based on what he’s done this season so far and assuming he continues the way he is. Essien is just a wonderful player but I would go with Eto. - footballnut

It’s tough. Drogba did well both for his club and country in the ACN & World Cup. Eto’o did well for his club and in the ACN. Essien though was amazing for Ghana in the World Cup and did good enough with Chelsea last season. And of course Abu-Trika, though he didn’t lead Egypt to the title in the ACN. I’d say either Drogba or Essien. - Sharif