African player of the year was voted Thomas N’Kono. As almost every year, no European-based players were included, casting doubt about the real strength of the top African players. More or less, votes went to players of the continental winners. Kerfalla Bangoura (Horoya, Conacry, Guinea) was 3rd with 15 points. Adolf Armah (Hearts of Oak, Ghana) – second with 23 points. Players not heard of before or after… No player of the winners of the African Champions Cup appeared among the top 3. The winner was another story.
N’Kono played for Canon Yaounde, which kind of explains why he was voted high. But there was consistency: It may be debatable was Canon the strongest African club of the decade, but it is certain that it was among the few outstanding clubs and very successful internationally. N’Kono himself was not a meteor like many other African players – coming from nowhere and disappearing just as quickly. In 1978 N’Kono was voted 3rd best player – a year later he was number 1. There were no whims and petty favouritism in voting for him. And his star was going to soar even higher. His first international recognition went unnoticed outside Africa, but it was overwhelming – he got 55 points: 17 more than the combined record of the next two players.