His compatriot Andre 'Dede' Ayew, Ivory Coast duo Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure and Cameroonian hotshot Samuel Eto'o were the other finalists.

"It was really hard to win this award especially because of all the other players I was up against," Gyan, who joined Sunderland from Rennes on a 20-million-dollar mid-year deal, told the Fast Track radio show.

The 25-year-old was instrumental in helping Ghana reach the 2010 African Cup of Nations final, where the Black Stars lost 1-0 to Egypt.

He netted three goals in the competition.

Gyan also hit three goals in the World Cup months later, helping Ghana become the third African team to reach the gigantic competition's quarter-finals.

He would have sent his country to the semi-finals had he converted a late penalty kick against Uruguay, but he was denied by the bar.

Gyan is also nominated for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award with Eto'o and 2009 winner Drogba.

The 2010 winner will be revealed on Monday during a CAF ceremony in Cairo.