Fake list of top African footballers debunked

This week, a list of the top 17 African footballers was released – and given worldwide publicity.

But the Confederation of African Football, CAF, which usually releases the list has come out to expose it as fake.

“The attention of Caf has been drawn to a fictitious list purporting to be that of nominees for the 2010 Player of the Year Awards,” said the statement from CAF.

“Caf wishes to state clearly that the list did not emanate from its offices as there are known procedures for the listing of nominees for the awards.

“We therefore urge the general public and the football community to disregard the said list circulating in some media circles.”

Caf spokesperson Suleiman Habuba told BBC “we don't know why anyone would want to reveal a fake list. We normally publish our list in November or December” each year.

The African football's governing body has admitted it has no idea about the source of the fake list – and no one has owned up to it.

The list, although fake, features a number of top African players that many expect to make a genuine list – but it had a few surprises, especially the inclusion of Chelsea and Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien, who had played less than ten games due to injury.

Caf says it announces its players of the year through what it called “scheduled media events” and that the procedure will be no different this year.

Chelsea and Ivory Coast star, Didier Drogba is the reigning Caf African Footballer of the Year.

Unsurprisingly, he was included in the fake list below:

1. Madjid Bougherra (Algeria)
2. Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
3. Mohamed Zidan (Egypt)
4. Michael Essien
5. Kojo Asamoah
6. Asamoah Gyan
7. Kevin-Prince Boateng (all Ghana)
8. Didier Drogba
9. Kolo Toure
10. Salomon Kalou
11. Gervinho (all Ivory Coast)
12. Frederic Kanoute
13. Seydou Keita (both Mali)
14. Marouane Chamakh (Morocco)
15. Victor Obinna (Nigeria)
16. Steven Pienaar (South Africa)
17. Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
Clearly, someone was having a big laugh, and the media just fell for it. It won't be far-fetched for the fake list above to be compared with the genuine one when it comes out later this year.

Someone is definitely having a laugh, and it is both absurd and comical.