Sport
Andre Ayew hopes to match father for the African footballer of the year award
He is also a first choice for the ‘Black Stars’ of Ghana, joint favourites with Ivory Coast to win the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off on January 21 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Toure, a younger brother of Manchester City defender Kolo, ranks among the highest paid English Premier League performers after moving from Barcelona and scored several crucial goals for the Eastlands outfit this year.
Among them was the winner against bitter rivals Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final and the sole goal against Stoke City in the final that ended a long City trophy drought.
Reigning World, European and Spanish champions Barcelona regularly use Keita as an impact player and he settled differences with national coach Alain Giresse to help Mali reach a third consecutive Cup of Nations.
Shock Cup of Nations qualifiers Botswana and Niger are National Team contenders and it will be hard separating Harouna Doula of Niger, Nabil Maaloul from African champions Esperance and Stanley Tshosane of Botswana for Coach of the Year.
Copyright 2011 AFP.
