Ayew or Yaya Should Have Won - Nyantakyi

The GFA boss claims that Ayew’s exploits at the 2015 Afcon should have helped him win the African Footballer of the Year award.

Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi has expressed disappointment at Andre Ayew’s failure to win the 2015 African Footballer of the Year award.

Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang snaffled the top prize in Abuja, Nigeria last Friday while Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure emerged as first runner-up.

“From my analysis of the three players in 2015, I knew Ayew could win the award,” Nyantakyi said at the Wafu Zone B Congress in Accra.

“I only gave Yaya a chance because he won the Afcon with his country. I was shocked and sad that Andre did not win.

“I had done my own analysis and realised that either Andre or Yaya was supposed to win. So when Yaya's name was mentioned as the first runner-up, I knew Andre had won it. But to my surprise, Aubameyang's name was mentioned as the winner.

“I know Andre is young and has a number of years ahead of him to win this award. He should focus on his game and forget this. But I was hurt he was swerved.”

Caf’s choice of Aubameyang has been criticised by many including Toure, Ayew and 2001 African Footballer of the Year first runner-up Samuel Osei Kuffour.