Lagos — Ivorian international Didier Drogba, was last night named the winner of the Glo-African Footballer of the year award for the year 2009 at an impressive ceremony that was staged in Accra, Ghana. Drogba beat his closest rivals Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon and Ghana's Michael Essien to the award.

It was a veritable birthday present for Drogba who turned 32 yesterday who incidentally lost the award in controversial manner in 2007 to Frederic Kanoute after shunning the ceremony held in Lome, Togo.

But he claimed his second award since 2006 to be assured of his place among the legends of Africa.

The elaborate CAF award was held at the State Banquet Hall in Accra, Ghana.

The award will also be a boost for Drogba who is the captain and all time leading scorer of the Ivorien national team ahead of this year's Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

He was born in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire and has remained a global sensation since he left French side, Marseille for Chelsea in 2004 for a reported fee of £24 million.

The move made him the costliest Ivorian player in history.

He has scored more goals for Chelsea than any other foreign player and is currently Chelsea's 8th highest goal scorer of all time.

The CAF award will cement Drogba's relations with the continental body after he asked never to be considered for the honour again following the acrimony that trailed the 2007 edition when Drogba refused to travel to Lome in midst of the African Cup of Nations tournament in Ghana.

Away from the pitch, Drogba is known for his charity work and was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2007. He has three children with his Malian wife, Alla.