The Egyptian international was included in CAF's three-man shortlist for the prestigious award but he missed out on winning it.

Togo and Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was chosen as Africa's best player in 2008 but Abou-Treika remains optimistic that some of his compatriots will be able to clinch the award soon.

"I had a good chance to win it because several African stars, such as Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba, did not make the final shortlist," Abou-Treika told FilGoal.com.

"But I believe that Amr Zaki, Mido or Mohamed Zidan can win this award in the not too distant future."

Ahli legend and the club's current vice-president Mahmoud Al-Khatib, who won the accolade in 1983, was the last Egyptian to be named Africa's best player.