African Player Of The Year

African Player of the Year. The captain of Cameroon Théophile Abega Mbida, nicknamed Doctor, was voted the best.

Known to the world as Abega, but the Doctor in Cameroon and Africa, the midfielder became known at the 1982 World Cup. And he stayed on top of the game, just like the whole Cameroonian team. He was 30 years in 1984 and arguably this was his best year. Well, in terms of success, it was – Cameroon won the African Cup of Nations, Cameroon played at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Canon Yaounde played at the final of the African Champions Cup. The Doctor undoubtedly contributed a lot to both his club and country, scoring a goal in the victorious African Nations final.

It was only proper to vote the captain of the continental winners number one. And there was more – he was hired to play for the French side Toulouse – the move to professional European football was certainly a recognition of his talent, although one may argue it came a bit too late for achieving true stardom.

Here is Abega with his eventually much more famous Canon and national team teammate Joseph-Antoine Bell. Unfortunately, sports are like that – Bell, a goalkeeper, would have much longer career and thus would reach big recognition. A field player, already 30 years old, had no real chance – Abega still had a few years to play and age did not have to be a big factor, but injury would cup his playing days shorter. But misfortune was still in the unknown future – in 1984 he was the best African player.