Brahim named BBC African Footballer of the year
Algerian midfielder, Yacine Brahimi has won the BBC African Footballer of the year award, ahead of Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Cote d’Ivoire forward and midfielder, Gervinho and Yaya Toure.
The 24-year-old Porto winger, who was voted the winner by football fans, said after receiving 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.
“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.”.
Brahimi helped Algeria reach the round of 16 at the World Cup in Brazil, scoring his first international goal in the 4-2 win over South Korea in the group stage.
He was also named the best African player in Spain early this year after an impressive spell at Granada last season. After his move to Portuguese club, Porto, he has scored six goals in 15 appearances so far,scoring a hat-trick in the club’s first Champions League group match.
He continued: “First I won the award because of the people who voted for me. So once again I need to thank them. Then it’s 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.”
Speaking about the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to hold in Equatorial Guinea from 17 January to 8 February.
“The Africa Cup of Nations is also coming. There are big opportunities for me. And I hope I’ll be able to achieve big things this year both with my national team and my club.
“I’m sharing this trophy with my family, with all the African countries and with all the Algerian who have always supported me. Thanks again.”
