The D-day is finally here. The 2013 edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards; an event held to honour the best African association football players will hold today January 9, 2014 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos. Sponsored by Globacom, All eyes are on Nigerian/Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi to break Nigeria’s 14 year-old jinx. In its 22 years of existence, Nigeria has won it 5 times, the recipient with the highest number being Kanu Nwankwo.

This year’s nominees; John Mikel Obi (Nigeria), Yaya Toure ( Ivory Coast) and Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast). The Ivorian pair have won it twice each, the Galatasaray star won it in 2006/2009 and 2011/2012 for Manchester City player. The last time a Nigerian clinched the award was 1999- Kanu Nwankwo. We sincerely hope Mikel wins his first CAF award today.

Other categories include African Footballer of the Year, the African Player of The Year (based in Africa), National Team of the Year, Club of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Other categories are the Most Promising Talent, Referee of the Year, Legend of the Year, Fair Play Award, Platinum Award and Africa’s Finest XI. 

Past CAF Awards winners

1992 Abedi A Pele (Ghana)

1993 Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria)

1994 Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria)

1995 George Weah (Liberia)

1996 Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)

1997 Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria)

1998 Mustapha Hadji (Morocco)

1999 Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)

2000 Patrick Mboma (Cameroon)

2001 El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal)

2002 El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)

2003 Samuel Eto’O (Cameroon)

2004 Samuel Eto’O (Cameroon)

2005 Samuel ETo’O (Cameroon)

2006 Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire)

2007 Frédéric Kanoute (Mali)

2008 Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)

2009 Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire)

2010 Samuel Eto’O (Cameroon)

2011 Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire)

2012 Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire)