Sympathy for Warriors star Khama Billiat who missed the Caf African Footballer of the Year (African based) award in controversial fashion last Thursday continues to spread across the continent with Nigerian fans becoming the latest to question the legitimacy of the winner Dennis Onyango.

The Mamelodi Sundowns and Uganda national team goalkeeper pipped teammate Billiat at the Glo-Confederation of African Football Awards but that has left bitter taste among fans who feel the gong was given to a lesser-deserving player.

According to News24 Nigeria, locals there feel Billiat, the reigning South African Player of the Year, should have won the award.

Although both Billiat and Onyango starred for both club and country, the panelists felt the latter’s achievements with the Cranes of Uganda warranted recognition.

Uganda qualified for the 2017 Afcon finals for the first time in 39 years with Onyango keeping guard.

Billiat led Zimbabwe to a first Afcon qualification in 10 years.

Zambia’s Rainford Kalaba who led DRC giants TP Mazembe to the Caf Confederation Cup title came third.

Fans in Nigeria where the awards ceremony was hosted, feel Billiat was robbed and allege football politics influenced the whole process.

“The young man deserved to be the African Player of The Year awarded to a local player but politics was at hand to sideline him,” Seyi Onwenu, a local supporter told News24 Nigeria.

“The manner the panelists arrived at awarding Dennis Onyango ahead of Billiat is shocking and unbelievable," he added.

According to News24 Nigeria, another Nigerian national, Onyeka Owoh, shared similar sentiments.

“Billiat won the South African Premiership's Player of the Year, Players' Player of The Year and Kick Off's Player of the Year and Onyango was nowhere near contention,” said Owoh.

“How the panelists then would opt for Onyango is daylight robbery. Such things always put football into disrepute…Sports and politics must not mix.”

The voting sheets suggested Onyango attained 252 points to Billiat’s 228. Kalaba garnered 206 points.

CAF member associations, media representatives and a technical and development committee cast their votes.