2017 CAF Awards: Eric Ayiah optimistic of winning Youth Player of the Year accolade

Captain of Ghana’s U-17 team, Eric Ayiah, remains hopeful of annexing his maiden continental accolade after he was nominated for the 2017 CAF Youth Player of the Year Award.

The 16-year-old had a remarkable outing for the Black Starlets at 2017 under-17 Africa Cup of Nations where he scored four times in the competition to propel Ghana to second place after their narrow loss to Mali in the finals of the competition.

The highly rated prodigy carried his form onto the World Stage and scored thrice at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he also helped Ghana reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

But according to Ayiah, he expects a tougher competition from the other shortlisted players which includes Mali’s U-17 playmaker Salam Giddou as well as Krepin Diatta, Luther Singh and Patson Daka who are from Senegal, South Africa and Zambia respectively.

“I remain hopeful of winning this prestigious award because I have worked very hard, and the nomination alone is very significant to me because it will boost my confidence in growing up to become a fine player in future, ” Ayiah told Ghanacrusader.com.

Meanwhile, the Awards Gala is slated for Accra On January 4, 2018.