Didier Drogba Is CAF African Footballer of The Year

PHOTO: IVORY COAST STRIKER, DIDIER DROGBA.

San Francisco March 11, (THEWILL) - Ivory Coast captain and Chelsea Football Club of England striker Didier Drogba was on Thursday crowned the 2009 African Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

At an event held in Accra, Ghana, Drogba beat Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o and Ghana's Michael Essien to clinch his second award, having won it previously in 2006 by beating Eto’o.

The Chelsea striker who turned 32 today scored five goals for his country during the World Cup qualifiers, earning them a spot at the summer championship in South Africa unbeaten through out the qualifiers.

The award was decided by a vote of Africa's national team coaches.

Drogba and Samuel Eto’o have competed fiercely for the award in the past with Eto’o winning in 2003, 2004 and 2005, when he beat Drogba by only two votes.

Michael Essien is yet to win the prize, while Togo and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor who won it in 2008 failed to make the 2009 shortlist.

All three players did not attend the event.