Didier Drogba says he
does not wish to be considered for future African player of the
year awards after Frederic Kanoute won the 2007 title by
default.
The Ivory Coast striker is
playing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana and claims he was
told he had won but had to travel to Togo to accept the
prize.
"I was told if I didn't appear
the rules would change and the prize would go to the runner-up," he
said.
"This attitude doesn't honour
Africa so I've pulled out of future elections." <!-- E SF
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Drogba, who won the 2006
award, said it made no sense to have the awards ceremony in another
country while such a high-profile African event was
ongoing.
"If I refused to go to (Togo
capital) Lome it was first for my team-mates, as you don't organise
such an event just two days before a quarter-final (Monday's game
against Guinea)," the Chelsea forward said.
"I didn't go as well because
of the son of Ulrich Stilieke (the former Ivory Coast coach) has
died.
"We're all working for the
African continent, there's a huge media presence in Ghana for a
competition that was heavily criticised 10 years ago.
"So there comes a time when we
all have to pull together."
Ivory Coast spokesman
Jean-Claude Djacus said the Confederation of African Football (Caf)
had "brought itself into disrepute" by its handling of the
affair.<!-- E BO -->