Eto’o seeks record fourth African title

ACCRA – Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o hopes to be named African Footballer of the Year a record fourth consecutive time today.

The other contenders for the most prestigious individual award on the continent are Chelsea team-mates Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast striker, and Michael Essien, the Ghana midfielder. Only two points separated Eto’o and Drogba last year and another close call is expected between two of the most prolific strikers in Europe as Ghana hosts the annual ceremony for the first time.There are six other African awards up for grabs – Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, Club Footballer of the Year, Club of the Year, Young Footballer of the Year and Female Footballer of the Year.Eto’o scored at the weekend in his fist full match for Barcelona since a four-month injury layoff that triggered criticism of coach Frank Rijkaard after a disagreement over the fitness level of the striker.But after scoring one goal and making another in a 3-0 league rout of Atletic Bilbao, Eto’o hopes to overtake three-time African Footballer of the Year Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew of Ghana.Liberia legend George Weah also topped the poll three times, but not in consecutive years, a feat ‘Pele’ achieved from 1991 when he was playing for French club Olympique Marseille.Eto’o was a pivotal figure as Barcelona won the European Champions League and Spanish title last year and his five goals made him leading scorer at the biennial African Nations Cup won by hosts Egypt.Drogba helped Ivory Coast take Egypt to a penalty shootout in the Nations Cup decider, upstaged Eto’o by making it to the World Cup, and was a frequent scorer for English champions Chelsea.Essien was third last year and a similar fate probably awaits the combative footballer in his home country despite inspiring Ghana to a first appearance at the World Cup, where they reached the second round before bowing to Brazil.Egyptian giants Al-Ahly last year became only the third club to successfully defend the African Champions League title and could be presented with three awards in Accra.Manuel Jose from Portugal is among three nominees for Coach of the Year while Ahly seem certain to be named Club of the Year and midfielder Mohamed Aboutraika Club Footballer of the Year.Egypt should be rewarded for a record fifth Nations Cup title by being named National Team of the Year while the Young Footballer of the Year and Female Footballer of the Year categories are open.Selected Confederation of African Football (CAF) committee members choose the shortlists with the winners decided by a vote among national coaches on the continent.CAF has come under media fire for not releasing voting details and there have also been claims that many coaches do not heed calls to select the football stars of Africa.Nampa-AFPOnly two points separated Eto’o and Drogba last year and another close call is expected between two of the most prolific strikers in Europe as Ghana hosts the annual ceremony for the first time.There are six other African awards up for grabs – Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, Club Footballer of the Year, Club of the Year, Young Footballer of the Year and Female Footballer of the Year.Eto’o scored at the weekend in his fist full match for Barcelona since a four-month injury layoff that triggered criticism of coach Frank Rijkaard after a disagreement over the fitness level of the striker.But after scoring one goal and making another in a 3-0 league rout of Atletic Bilbao, Eto’o hopes to overtake three-time African Footballer of the Year Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew of Ghana.Liberia legend George Weah also topped the poll three times, but not in consecutive years, a feat ‘Pele’ achieved from 1991 when he was playing for French club Olympique Marseille.Eto’o was a pivotal figure as Barcelona won the European Champions League and Spanish title last year and his five goals made him leading scorer at the biennial African Nations Cup won by hosts Egypt.Drogba helped Ivory Coast take Egypt to a penalty shootout in the Nations Cup decider, upstaged Eto’o by making it to the World Cup, and was a frequent scorer for English champions Chelsea.Essien was third last year and a similar fate probably awaits the combative footballer in his home country despite inspiring Ghana to a first appearance at the World Cup, where they reached the second round before bowing to Brazil.Egyptian giants Al-Ahly last year became only the third club to successfully defend the African Champions League title and could be presented with three awards in Accra.Manuel Jose from Portugal is among three nominees for Coach of the Year while Ahly seem certain to be named Club of the Year and midfielder Mohamed Aboutraika Club Footballer of the Year.Egypt should be rewarded for a record fifth Nations Cup title by being named National Team of the Year while the Young Footballer of the Year and Female Footballer of the Year categories are open.Selected Confederation of African Football (CAF) committee members choose the shortlists with the winners decided by a vote among national coaches on the continent.CAF has come under media fire for not releasing voting details and there have also been claims that many coaches do not heed calls to select the football stars of Africa.Nampa-AFP