Zambia’s Christopher Katongo named BBC African soccer player of the year

Zambia’s captain Christopher Katongo with the trophy celebrates after winning the 2012 African Cup of Nations. PHOTO/File

Christopher Katongo has won the 2012 BBC African Footballer (soccer player) of the Year award.

The 30-year-old Zambia captain beat off competition from Demba Ba, Didier Drogba, Younes Belhanda and Yaya Toure to become the first winner from southern Africa in the history of the award.

Katongo told BBC Sport: “This is a fantastic moment for me. I thank the people who voted for me. It is something I will never forget in my career. This means a lot for the young people and the young players who look up to me. I could not have achieved this without the support of my team-mates.”

The shortlist for the award was drawn up by soccer experts from every country in Africa, who based their choices on players’ skill, technical ability, teamwork, consistency and fair play.

And a record number of people nominated their favorite online or by text message with just over 40 percent of the votes going to Katongo.

While all the players on the shortlist have enjoyed a superb year, with four of the players picking up silverware, it is Katongo whose performances and achievements have been considered by African soccer fans to be the greatest.

Katongo, led Zambia to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in February this year.

Katongo scored three goals en route to the final of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon and then struck a successful penalty in an 8-7 shoot-out victory over favorites Ivory Coast to lift the trophy in Libreville.

In between those Nations Cup heroics, Katongo also provided the spark that lifted Zambia out of a difficult phase in their 2014 World Cup qualification campaign.