Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has been voted BBC African Footballer of the Year.
The shortlist also included Gyan's Ghana national team-mate, Andre 'Dede' Ayew (Marseille), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon and Inter Milan), and Ivorians Yaya Toure (Manchester City) and Didier Drogba (Chelsea).
On discovering he had won the award, Gyan was overwhelmed.
He said: "I'm so happy, l can't believe it. I'm so thankful to all the fans who voted for me. It really was hard to win this award especially because of all the other players I was up against.
"So I'm so appreciative to all my fans in Africa, especially my family and fans in Ghana."
Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce said: "Asamoah has been a fantastic addition to the Sunderland squad. As our record signing, he had a lot of expectation placed on his shoulders but he has embraced the club wholeheartedly and has settled in very well.
"He has an infectious joy for football, and we are reaping the rewards of that. I'm thrilled for Asamoah that he has been awarded this honour, it is thoroughly deserved."
