Algeria and FC Porto winger, Yacine Brahimi, was monday announced as the winner of the 2014 BBC African Footballer of the Year ahead of Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama.
The Lille of France safe hands was expected to emulate Austin Jay Jay Okocha who won the 2004 edition as the second Nigerian to be so crowned.
Enyeama’s speculative form for both country and club in the outgoing year was expected to sway the fans who voted in the 207 FIFA-registered countries in his favour.
The 24-year-old Brahimi became the first Algerian to win the award, which is decided by football fans.
Shortly after he was announced as the winner of the 2014 edition, the Porto winger told BBC Sport: "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."
After a record number of votes were submitted from fans, Brahimi came out on top ahead of Enyeama, Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ivorian pair of Gervinho and Yaya Toure.
He is thrilled to have been acclaimed as the best player on the continent for the past year.
"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," added Brahimi, who was congratulated in a Tweet by last year's winner Toure.
During 2014, Brahimi shone for club and country.
He starred for Algeria at the World Cup in Brazil, helping them reach the last 16 for the first time and scoring his first international goal in the 4-2 win over South Korea in the group stage.
Domestically, Brahimi started the year at Spanish club Granada, where his strong performances led to him being named best African player in the country last season - and earned him a move to Portuguese giants Porto.
He has scored six goals in 15 appearances for his new club and is revelling in the challenge of European Champions League football, where he hit a hat-trick in the club's first group match.
"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."
Brahimi will also be part of Algeria's squad to play in the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8.
"The Africa Cup of Nations is also coming. There are big opportunities for me," he said. "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 Algerians who have always supported me. Thanks again," concludes the exciting winger.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
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: Austin Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
2002: El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)
2001: Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)
2000: Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroun)
Source: Thisdaynews
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