Nigeria captain and goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has accepted the final outcome of the 2014 BBC African Footballer of the Year award by congratulating Algerian midfielder, Yacine Brahimi.
The 24-year-old FC Porto winger beat Enyeama to the BBC award from votes by fans.
Brahimi and Enyeama
Brahimi and Enyeama
According to BBC, “a record number of votes were submitted from fans in 207 Fifa-registered countries” in a contest that produced Brahimi as the winner ahead of the LOSC Lille goalkeeper.
Brahimi also earned more votes than Gabon striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well as the Ivorian duo of Yaya Toure and Gervinho.
But Enyeama has taken the defeat in a sporting way. He thanked the voters and sent out a congratulatory message to the Algerian.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone that made a shout out for me, that voted for me for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014. God bless you all very well, and congratulations to the Algerian guy, Yacine Brahimi, who won it,” said Enyeama.
Enyeama missed out on becoming the fourth Nigerian to win the BBC African Footballer of the Year.
Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, remains the only Nigerian to have won the BBC award back-to-back in 2003 and 2004.
Other Nigerians who have won the award are Emmanuel Amuneke and Nwankwo Kanu.
vanguard
