Edward Sadomba in Caf top 10

first for his country by being named by the Confederation of African Football among the best 10 players plying their trade on the continent.
The Al-Hilal talismanic forward may have failed to inspire the Warriors to the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals but his exploits for the Sudanese giants did not go unnoticed.

He secured a rare feat by Zimbabwean players – being recognised by Caf and the continental body’s panelists for his performances in 2011.
Sadomba’s inclusion, among the top 10, means he is now in line to vie for a top five finish after, which Caf will unveil the best three players from those plying their trade in Africa at a ceremony to be held in Accra, Ghana, on December 22.
It will be the third time the Ghanaian capital will be hosting the annual event after staging the 2006 and 2009 events.

According to reports from Accra, the nominees for the 2011 Player of the Year (Based in Africa) and the 2011 Player of the Year were unveiled at a function presided over by Kwesi Nyantakyi, Caf executive committee member, and president of the Ghana Football Association.
Ten nominees each were named for the two categories based on the performance and contribution of the players to their clubs and national teams during the year under review.

For the first time, there are 10 nominees for the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa), contrary to the five for last year.
The lists was compiled through a vigorous exercise by the Technical, Football and Media Committees of Caf, taking into account the performance of the player for his national team and club from January to November, 2011.

Sadomba, scorer of seven goals in 12 Champions League matches for Al Hilal this year, could win the tournament’s Golden Boot if none of his nearest rivals manage to find the target in the second leg of the competition’s final.
But the former Dynamos striker somehow just could not transform his club form to the Warriors and was part of Norman Mapeza’s class that failed to secure a place at the Nations Cup finals to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January.

Sadomba was, however, a regular member of the Warriors squad that lost the Group A qualifying race to Mali with the Al Hilal forward who inspired the Sudanese giants to a Champions League semi-final place, only missing Zimbabwe’s last qualifier against Cape Verde on October 8 due to a shoulder injury.
In the race for Africa’s best player, Sadomba will compete against the likes of Nigerian Kalu Uche, who plays for Enyimba, Botswana international Jerome Ramatlhakwane of South African Division One side Vasco da Gama, whose goals helped the Zebras surprise everyone and become the first team to qualify for the Nations Cup from a tough five-team group that included seasoned campaigners like Tunisia and Togo.

The list also includes the duo of Cameroonian defender Banana Yaya and striker Youssef Msakni of Tunisian giants Esperance as well as Libyan and Al Ittihad goalkeeper Samir Aboud who helped his country qualify for the Nations Cup, conceding just one goal in the qualifiers.
Despite reaching another personal milestone Sadomba remained modest and attributed the success to support from teammates, family and fans.

Sadomba, speaking from his base in Khartoum, also felt that just being nominated among the top 10 was a big honour in itself although he is eager to claim the big prize.
“I just want to thank God for this blessing, I always put everything before God and it’s because of God’s wish that you get to be recognised like this. I also want to thank my family, my teammates and the supporters for all the support they gave me during the year.

“It is a great honour to be among Africa top 10 and flying your country’s flag high up there,” Sadomba said.
Nominees for the 2011 African Player of the Year (Based in Africa)
The nominees are in alphabetical order:

1. Ayoub El Khahiqi
Date of birth: 11th September 1986
Club: WAC (Morocco)
The right winger has been part of WAC’s successful campaign in this year’s Champions League where they have reached the finals. He won the 2010 CAF Confederation Cup and Trone Cups with his previous club, FUS Rabat before joining WAC.
2. Banana Yaya
Date of birth: 12th July 1991
Club: Esperance of Tunis (Tunisia)
The tall and strong Cameroonian defender has been playing with Esperance since 2009. He won the Tunisian Cup and the Championship title and qualified for the final of the Champions League. He has been an influential national team player with Cameroon’s U-20 team which reached the finals of the African Youth Championship in South Africa and reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia this year (2011).
3. Edward Sadomba
Date of birth: 31st August 1983
Club: Al Hilal (Sudan)
The Zimbabwean international extended his prominence this season with his goals leading Al Hilal to the semi-final of the Orange CAF Champions League. Sadomba scored seven of Al Hilal’s 12 goals in the continental club competition. He however failed to assist his home country Zimbabwe qualify for 2012 CAN.
4. Idrissa Laouali
Date of birth: 9th November 1979
Club: ASFA (Burkina Faso)
The midfielder had a good run with his Burkina Faso club, ASFA and was part of the Niger national team (Mena) which made it to the quarter finals of CHAN 2011 in Sudan. Niger made its first ever finals of a continental senior tournament at CHAN and also qualified for AFCON 2012 finals for the first time. His experience makes him one of the key figures of the national team of Niger.
5. Jerome Ramatlhakwane
Date of birth: 29th October 1985
Club: Vasco da Gama (South Africa)
The Botswana international stunned everyone as his national team became the first team to qualify for the 2012 AFCON in a group that was difficult to pick out a favourite. He finished second top goals scorer in the AFCON 2012 qualifiers with 5 goals. He scored both goals in Botswana’s double 1-0 victories over Tunisia. Like most southern African players, he plays professional football in South Africa.
6.Kalu Uche
Date of birth: 16th May 1990
Club: Enyimba (Nigeria).
Uche emerged as Enyimba’s top goal scorer in the Champions League campaign with 4 goals. He led the team to the semi-final of the competition before bowing out to by WAC of Casablanca.
7. Oussama Darragi
Date of birth: 3rd April 1987
Club: Esperance (Tunisia)
He has had a successful year winning a number of silverware. He won the Tunisian championship and the Tunisian Cup with Esperance. In February he won the second edition of CHAN in Sudan and has reached Champions League final with Esperance. The 24-year-old midfielder has become one of the pillars of the national team which has qualified for the 2012 CAN.
8. Samir Aboud
Date of birth: 29th September 1972
Club: Al Ittihad (Libya)
The Al Ittihad keeper, who just celebrated his 39th birthday, is the pillar of the defence of the national team which qualified for the 2012 CAN. He conceded just a goal in the qualifiers. He will be participating in the CAN for the second time after playing with Libya in AFCON 2006 held in Egypt.
9. Youssef Msakni
Date of birth: 28th October 1990
Club: Esperance (Tunisia)
Msakni won CHAN with Tunisia in February this year in Sudan. He also won the Cup and the national championship with Esperance. He has made it a second consecutive time in the cafe Champions League final after Esperance qualified for 2011 two leg final. The young striker is part of the Carthage Eagles which has qualified for 2012 AFCON finals.
10. Zouheir Dhaouadi
Date of birth: 1st January 1988
Club: Club Africain (Tunisia)
He won the CHAN in February and was voted the best player and top scorer. The offensive midfielder also showcased his skills in the Orange CAF Confederation Cup as his club, Club Africain made its way to the final.

2011 African Player of the Year:
Adel Taarabt (Morocco and Queens Park Rangers)
Andre Ayew (Ghana and Olympique de Marseille)
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana and Al-Ain)
Didier Drogba (Cote d’ Ivoire and Chelsea)
Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana and AC Milan)
Moussa Sow (Senegal and Lille)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon and Anzhi)
Seydou Keita (Mali and Barcelona)
Yao Kouassi Gervais “Gervinho” (Cote d’Ivoire and Arsenal)
Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City)