Kuffour Voted Ghanaweb's Best

For the second year in a row, Samuel Osei Kuffour has been voted ghanaweb's European-based player of the Year, following a flood of votes this week. A massive 824 votes were registered, with Bayern Munich's defender the overwhelming winner with 55.3% of the votes. The Ghanaian international, who lost out to Senegalese Diouf for the 2001 African player of the year award, won through with 471 nominations.

Augustine Ahinful (Ankaragucu, Turkey) piped Sam Johnson (Fenerbache, Turkey) by a single vote to take second place.

Bastia's impressive midfielder Michael Essien was fourth, just ahead of veteran Alex Nyarko, who did very well after a … experience with.

There were surprises further down the voting, with relegated Yozgatspor (Turkey) providing the player in sixth place – Yaw Preko. He beat Czech league champion and UEFA cup quarter finalist Baffour Gyan (Liberec).

The poll did not include some top players - German league champion Otto Addo, UEFA champion Christian Gyan, Greek league champion Ofori-Quaye, Italian Cup winner Stephen Appiah and Austrian Cup Finalist and 2000 winner Charles Amoah, ex-Black stars captain Akonnor, Mohammed Gargo – because they all failed to meet ghanaweb’s criteria, i.e. participation in over 50% of their clubs matches.