Christopher Katongo has been crowned the 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year.

The captain of reigning African champions Zambia was presented with the award at a ceremony in Lusaka by Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili and FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya.

"On behalf of the BBC, I am pleased to give this award and invite the president of the Football Association of Zambia Kalusha Bwalya to present it to Chris Katongo," the BBC's Farayi Mungazi said before handing over the trophy to Kalusha.

"I'm speechless. I don't know what to say but my heart is rejoicing. I am grateful to the people who have spoken through their democratic vote," Katongo said after becoming the first East, Central and Southern African player to win the BBC annual player accolade.

Faz chief Kalusha -the only player in the sub-region to win the coveted African Footballer of the Year in 1988 - commended Chris on the accolade.

He said Kalusha had carried the legacy of the greatness of the Zambia national team number "11" shirt very well.

"Well done Chris. This is a fantastic achievement in a year that we continue to achieve lots of success. You have stood out as leader and captain of the team. Ben would have been very proud of you because when we said no to retiring the number 11, we said Chris can continue with the great legacy of the shirt. You have done very well. Congratulations too to your team colleagues, Herve Renard and his staff and all the people that continue to support us," Kalusha said.

"You have continued the great legacy of the number 11 shirt. I'm sure you will remember the late Ben Bamfuchile who gave you your first national team game. When Ben was there, we discussed the shirt and when giving you that number 11, we said that this shirt can score goals on its own. The number itself scores the goals and you have lived up to it."

Kambwili dedicated the award to the rest of the team.

"It's wonderful that we continue winning. You would not have been able to do it on your own that's why I would like to dedicate this award to the whole national team," Kambwili said.

Katongo saw off the challenge of Didier Drogba, Demba Ba, Yaya Toure and Youness Belhanda to win his first continental award.

Yaya Toure will win The main koko come January abi na February

Well deserved

One of the great footballing moments of 2012

Congrats. Thought Drogba would win though.

http://.com/2012/12/christopher-katongo-named-bbc-african.html

These oyinbo people self. Why don't they have bbc european footballer of the year aside the real one? They always devise ways of polarizing us.

No one really cares about this award. The main one is the CAF backed award (jan or feb).

ladeski: No one really cares about this award. The main one is the CAF backed award (jan or feb).

Wow people treated this award like the Oscar's when Jay Jay missed out on the main award but won the BBC award

omar22:

Wow people treated this award like the Oscar's when Jay Jay missed out on the main award but won the BBC award

true. JJ's inability to win the league in his career affected him in winning top accolades imho, compared to lesser talents who won more.

ladeski: true. JJ's inability to win the league in his career affected him in winning top accolades imho, compared to lesser talents who won more.

I cant remember El Hadj Diouf (2x), Frédéric Kanouté, Emmanuel Adebayor or Mustapha Hajji winning a league title or might be wrong!!! Jay Jay missing out had a a lot to do with Nigeria voting against Hayatou for the FIFA presidential post

omar22:

I cant remember El Hadj Diouf (2x), Frédéric Kanouté or Mustapha Hajji winning a league title or might be wrong!!! Jay Jay missing out had a a lot to do with Nigeria voting against Hayatou for the FIFA presidential post

you may have a point as I cannot rule out politics. Its everywhere ! However Diouf won the league cup for liverpool,and won the league for rangers last year ( albeit long after he won african footballer of the year). Diouf was rewarded for being a key player when senegal reached the QF in the world cup, beating france Tdefending champions) on the way in their first attempt.

As for kanoute, he won a lot more. He's a double UEFA cup winner for sevilla for starters.he also won copa del rey 2ce and UEFA super cup once. Didn't win the league but won important trophies.he scored 23 goals in 39 apps for mali and scored more beautiful goals with various clubs.

Hadji's own was based on the 1998 world cup where he was one of the best footballers.