BY Victor Akhidenor
Algeria midfielder, Yacine Brahimi, has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014.
The 24-year-old midfielder beats Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama, to become the first Algerian to win the award.
“It’s a big honour for me to receive this wonderful trophy. I owe it to my country, Algeria, and to all the people who voted for me,” the Porto winger told BBC Sport.
“It’s also a trophy for the whole of Africa, because it rewards an African player. So I am really very happy.
“This trophy is going to give me more strength, more desire to work, to get better, to learn so that I can keep having great performances.”
A record number of votes of 207 were submitted from fans in FIFA registered countries, and Brahimi came out on top ahead of Enyeama, Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ivorian pair Gervinho and Yaya Toure.
Brahimi has had an outstanding year and his efforts have been recognised by football fans.
“First I won the award because of the people who voted for me. So once again I need to thank them.
“Then its thanks for FC Porto – they allowed me to play in the Champions League, to play in big games and to have great performances. The club has allowed me to express myself and to perform well on the pitch.”
Previous winners of BBC African Footballer of the Year award:
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City & Ivory Coast)
2012: Chris Katongo (Henan Construction & Zambia)
2011: Andre Ayew (Marseille & Ghana)
2010: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland & Ghana)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)
2008: Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly & Egypt)
2007: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal & Togo)
2006: Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana)
2005: Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahly & Egypt)
2004: Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
2003: Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
2002: El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)
2001: Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)
2000: Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroon)
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