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0 Emmanuel Adebayor has surprisingly snubbed Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus and last year’s winner Victor Osimhen in favour of Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy for the 2024 African Player of the Year award.
Despite Mohammed Kudus’ stellar debut season in the Premier League, Adebayor believes he didn’t do enough. The Ghana star scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in 48 appearances across all competitions, making him a standout performer for West Ham United in the just-ended season.
Kudus also starred for Ghana at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Victor Osimhen, who won the award last year, had a difficult season with Napoli, and his numbers dipped significantly. Though Osimhen deservedly won last year’s African Footballer of the Year award, Adebayor feels he will likely not be a contender this year.
In contrast, the former Togo striker believes Serhou Guirassy was incredible in the Bundesliga. The 28-year-old bagged 28 league goals to help Stuttgart finish second in the German top flight.
Speaking to Afrik-Foot, Adebayor, the 2008 CAF African Footballer of the Year, backed Guirassy to win the award ahead of other contenders like Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface.
“Of course [he deserves to win]. He had an extraordinary season with Stuttgart, he is a striker who scored a lot. He will be one of the contenders, that’s for sure, especially since Salah has not scored as much, and Victor Osimhen did not have the same season as the year of the title. It’s open this year. If it’s Guirassy, it will be deserved.”
Guirassy faces fiece competition
Bayer Leverkusen and Nigeria striker Victor Boniface was also one of the best African players last season. He scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists in 34 matches as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time. However, he missed the 2023 AFCON due to injury.
Boniface’s Super Eagles teammate, Ademola Lookman, bagged a hat-trick in the Europa League final to secure an elusive piece of silverware for Atalanta. Lookman also performed well at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Only Harry Kane (36) scored more Bundesliga goals last season than the Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy, making him a strong contender for the African Footballer of the Year award.
The post Adebayor backs Guirassy for African Player of the Year, snubs Kudus and Osimhen first appeared on 3News.
