With less than two weeks to the Awards Gala holding in Accra, Ghana, Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is hoping to beat his two rivals to clinch the African footballer of the year gong once more.
The Borussia Dortmund star, who won the 2015 edition, made the current shortlist alongside Senegal’s Sadio Mané and Egyptian Mohamed Salah. “It’s going to be a difficult year with excellent competitors at the awards,” Aubameyang said.
“Salah had a wonderful year with his national team Egypt. I also worked very hard too during the year under review and so I hope to be the one to be named.”
Aubameyang is currently the second top scorer of Bundesliga with 13 goals behind Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who has 15.
“I am not a competitor with bad faith. If I am not declared the winner I will congratulate whoever emerges as the winner,” he said.
Four-time winner Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure refused to congratulate Aubameyang when the Gabonese won it in 2015.
The award ceremony will take place on January 4, 2018.
