Keshi told Complete Sports in Abuja that with his performance both at club and national level, the former Lyn Oslo midfielder is in pole position to win the 2013 edition for himself and the country.
Keshi said that Mikel has done so well that he does not foresee anybody beating the Chelsea midfielder to the award this time around, adding that it would be unfair of any coach to deny him of the honour.
“Mikel deserves to win the award after his five-star performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Europa League and the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. I don’t see any better contender for the award than Mikel this year,” Keshi told Complete Sports.
“Sentiments apart, I think Mikel should get the nod ahead of Victor Moses and may be Yaya Toure as the top three players that would be contending for the award in January next year in Lagos.”
The former Togo and Mali coach added:
“Yaya has not achieved much to displace Mikel and Moses from the award. In the past, Nigerian players have lost it because of sentiment in the pattern of voting- especially from Francophone countries. But this time around, I guess they don’t have much choice than to vote for Mikel who I am sure would continue do his best at his club with a view to be a regular in the star-studded Chelsea side this term.”
Keshi however expressed regret over the injury of 2013 AFCON top scorer Emmanuel Emenike, saying such long injury lay-off might have ruled the new Fenerbahce striker out of contention for the CAF award.
The former captain of the Super Eagles also tipped Sunday Mba to emerge as the Home-based CAF Footballer of The Year because of his sterling performances at 2013 AFCON and the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
culled from nigeriamonitor
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