The annual CAF Awards enters its 26th edition this year and the Awards Gala will take place in the Ghanaian capital, Accra on Thursday.
The King of African football will be crowned at the International Conference Centre in Accra, from the trio of 2015 winners, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, Egyptian Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of Senegal.
From 1992 to 2016, from Ghana’s Abedi Pele to Algerian Riyad Mahrez, 16 players have laid claim to the most prestigious individual honour in African football.
Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o was the first to be crowned on four occasions – 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010; a record since equalled by Toure, who made it four wins on the trot (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Former Senegal forward, El Hadji Diouf won the award twice in a row; 2001 and 2002.
However, the first player to have been named CAF African Player of the Year on two occasions was ex-Nigeria captain, Nwankwo Kanu, in 1996 and 1999 before Ivorian Didier Drogba repeated the feat in 2006 and 2009.
Winners of the prestigious honour have come from either the midfield or attack; and that tradition will be respected yet again this time, with the three contenders being attackers.
South African defender, Mark Fish also settled for sixth position in 1996. Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour narrowly missed out on two occasions, 1999 and 2001.
