LOME, (Reuters) - Mali striker Frederic Kanoute won the
2007 African Footballer of the Year award on Friday, the
Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced.
The Sevilla forward is the first European-born player to win the
award after beating off competition from Ivory Coast captain Didier
Drogba and Michael Essien of Ghana.
Kanoute was nominated for his role in helping Mali qualify for
this year's African Nations Cup finals and triumphs last season
with Spanish club Sevilla in the UEFA and King's Cups.
The African Footballer of the Year award is voted for by the
national coaches of the 53 CAF associations.
Kanoute played for his native France as a junior international
before switching allegiance in 2004 to Mali, his father's
country.
He is the first Malian to win the award since Salif Keita took
the inaugural title in 1970.
The honour came three days after Mali were eliminated from the
African Nations Cup finals in Ghana with Kanoute injured in their
last game against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Drogba had been nominated mainly on the strength of his form in
the English league and European competition.
His goals kept Chelsea in the Premier League title race last
season and also helped them lift the FA Cup, with the Ivorian
scoring the only goal of the final against Manchester United at
Wembley.
The timing of this year's ceremony drew criticism with Essien
refused permission by Ghana to travel the short distance to
neighbouring Togo for the ceremony.
On Sunday Ghana play Nigeria in a quarter-final in Accra and
Drogba will lead the Ivorians against Guinea in Sekondi.
Other awards were given to the Ivory Coast as the African team
of the year and Champions League winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia as
the club of the year.
Etoile Sahel striker Armine Chermiti was named the best African
club competition player and Zambian Clifford Mulenga Young African
Player of the Year.