CAF President, Issa Hayatou said the sponsorship backing of telecommunication giant, Globacom Limited has transformed the profile of African football in the last six years.

Hayatou spoke at the 2010 Glo-CAF Awards ceremony in Cairo, Egypt and noted that the involvement of the company in the organisation of the award has tremendously complimented the on_the_field exploits of African players.

Samuel Eto’O Fils of Cameroon won a new record fourth African Player of the Year award on the night ahead of Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan and Cote D’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba. At the well attended ceremony inside the Ball Room of Intercontinental City Stars hotel, Hayatou said the year witnessed landmark achievements for African Players and African Football.

Setting the scene in his opening remarks at the ceremony, the CAF President said“ The African footballers have in the calendar year thrilled us from Luanda , Johannesburg, passing through Lubumbashi, Rabat, Niamey, Gaborone, London and Milan with unimaginable moments of joy”.

He added, “The achievements on the field is here tonight being celebrated by CAF in partnership with our sponsor, Globacom and this is very good for the profile of the players and African football”

Hayatou expressed appreciation to the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr, describing him as “a passionate lover and supporter of African football”.

Adenuga, whose goodwill message on the night was relayed through video, had also noted the fact that Africa made tremendous stride in football in 2010. He specifically mentioned the successful hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa as the high point of a year that saw African players winning laurels both on the continet and in Europe.

The Globacom Chairman offered the continued support of the company to football development and promotion in Africa.