At the top of the poll carried out as part of the 2024 African Ballon d’Or, Simon Adingra received bad news. Unfortunately, all these votes will not have any influence on the designation of the next winner of this trophy.
In recent days, enthusiasm has been noted around a survey carried out by Foot Africa. And on the web, several Ivorians are mobilizing for Simon Adingra to dominate the poll, hoping that he also wins the 2024 African Ballon d’Or.
Moreover, the Ivorian international dominates his opponents. But unfortunately, it will take a lot more before he takes home the trophy.
Organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), this prize is awarded according to a strict process which excludes any direct participation from supporters.
The voting system is based exclusively on the opinion of professionals. The selectors of the African national teams, their captains, as well as sports journalists affiliated with CAF, constitute the jury.
They are responsible for evaluating players based on specific criteria, including their individual and collective performances, their contribution to their clubs and national teams, and their overall influence on the game. Each voter awards decreasing points to five players, based on of their personal ranking.
Supporters, although passionate and invested, do not participate in this process. Unlike some awards like the Puskás Prize or other distinctions involving online voting, the African Ballon d’Or remains a professional decision.
However, their role should not be completely underestimated. Massive fan support, whether in stadiums or on social media, can contribute to a player’s notoriety and attract the attention of voters. This phenomenon, although unofficial, can indirectly influence the perception of certain candidates by amplifying their visibility.
This dynamic is particularly notable in the case of players who enjoy immense popular support, such as Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mané, whose performances are often propelled to the forefront by an active and engaged fan base. However, this popular support remains a secondary element compared to the objective criteria applied by the experts.
Supporters play a key role in the promotion and valorization of their idols, but they have no direct impact on the awarding of the African Ballon d’Or.
This system aims to ensure a fair and impartial assessment of player performance, relying on professional judgments rather than popularity.
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