Andre Ayew has expressed his profound disappointment in missing out on the 2011 African Player of the Year award but says he is looking to win next year's edition.
The 22-year-old Marseille midfielder came third to Mali's Seydou Keita and eventual winner Yaya Toure of Ivory Coats at a coulorful ceremony at the State Banquet Hall in Accra on Thursday.
And though the Ghanaian admitted to his disappointment, he insists he will be looking to win the award as early as next year.
"Of course I am disappointed not to have won the award in front of my family and my fans but that is football," he said.
"I proud to have come behind Yaya and Keita who are older than me and have played much more games than I have.
"I am young and have my career ahead of me so I will work hard and next year we will see again."
Ayew's failure to win the Caf gong meant he was unsuccessful in his bid to succeed his father, Abedi Pele as the last Ghanaian to have won the award way back in 1993.
He however can take solace in the fact that he won the BBC African Player of the Year last week - an award which is voted for by the fans.