Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, who plays his club ball for Chelsea, was named 2006 African Player of the Year.
Besides lifting the English Premier League title last year, Drogba, 28, helped Ivory Coast to a runner-up finish at the African Nations Cup (losing on penalty kicks to host Egypt) and played in the World Cup finals.
Drogba finished ahead of Barcelona’s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o (winner in 2003, 2004, 2005), and his Chelsea teammate Michael Essien of Ghana.
Confederation of African Football 2006 Award Winners
African Player of the Year: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
Team of the Year: Ghana
Club of the Year: Al Ahli (Egypt)
Coach of the Year: Manuel Jose (Al Ahli, Egypt)
Young African Player of the Year: Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille and Nigeria)
African club competition player of the Year: Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahli, Egypt)
Women’s Player of the Year: Cynthia Uwak (Nigeria).