Duro Ikhazuagbe
31 January 2008
Lagos — The Globacom 2007 African Footballer of the Year Award which holds today in Lome appears a done deal for Cote d 'Ivoire skipper Didier Drogba who is the leading contender in a contest that also boasts quality opposition like his Chelsea of England team mate, Michael Essien of Ghana. Of course, Sevilla of Spain and Mali forward, Frederick Kanoute is also in the shadow of the duo.
To keen followers of the African football contest, Drogba who won the 2006 edition, beating consecutive three times winner Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o Fils to the second place, in the year under review fared head and shoulder above every other contender for both country and club. And so, it will not be suicidal sticking out one's neck in giving it to the Ivorien.
In the mould of former Liberian football legend George Weah, enfant terrible of the Teranga Lions El Hadji Diouf (Senegal) and Eto'o who all won the award back-to-back, Drogba appears set to join that exclusive list this evening. Of course, there is other past winner of the award like our own Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999) who has won it more than once.
To get listed, Drogba proved his worth again in the Premiership through his goals that kept Chelsea in the League title race last season. His lone goal strike against Manchester United at the refurbished Wembly also helped them lift the FA Cup.
His claim for the 2007 award also draws on his role in Chelsea's run to the Champions League semi-finals and his captaincy of Cote d' Ivoire through Nations Cup qualifying.
A look at Drogba's showing in the African top award paints a picture of consistency and a form of character that is becoming rare to most footballers in this clime. For instance, since 2003, Drogba has maintained a top three placement. He was third in 2003, second in 2004 and 2005 and ended up picking the main silverware in 2006. It a strong testimonial of his brilliance. Not just the type of one off stuff many African players have displayed whether present or past
However, for the 53 African coaches who are the main deciders of who wears the crown, Michael Essien of Ghana who finished third in the last two polls is is another force like Drogba who has also contributed tremendously to the success of Chelsea.
What however may turnout his greatest undoing will be Ghana's lack of competitive matches in 2007, when as hosts for the Nations Cup they played only friendly international.
Kanoute was nominated for his role in helping Mali qualify for the finals, beating Togo away in their last group match.
Kanoute's credentials are further strengthened by the victories with his Spanish club Sevilla in the UEFA Cup and domestic King's Cup.
If he won, Kanoute would become the first European-born player to take the award.
Kanoute played for his native France as a junior international before switching international allegiance in 2004 to Mali, his father's country.
The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football (soccer) player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992.
An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine. The changes resulted in parallel Golden Ball awards given out to Abedi Pel_ and George Weah in 1993 and 1994 respectively by the magazine.
France Football discontinued the election from 1995 after the European Ballon d'Or - also awarded by the magazine, had been opened to all players in the European leagues.
Some of the great stars of Africa to be honoured at the event for their contributions to the game of football include Abedi Pele Ayew of Ghana, Roger Milla of Cameroon, Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria, Didier Drogba who also is in the running for Glo-CAF Player of the Year.
Others are Samuel Eto'O Fills of Cameroon, George Weah of Liberia, Hassan Hossam and Mahmoud El-Khatib of Egypt, Raber Madjer of Algeria and Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia.
Yemi Tella, the late coach of the Nigeria U-17 team that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in China was nominated for Best Coach of the Year Award alongside coaches of two Tunisian clubs, Etoile Sahel and Sfax FC.
Over three hundred journalists are expected to cross over from the Nations Cup coverage in Ghana to cover the Glo-CAF Awards ceremony.
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