Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been named African Player of the
Year for 2006, beating Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o by just five
votes.
The Ivory Coast forward ended the Cameroonian's three-year grip on
the title after polling 79 votes from coaches of the member states
of the Confederation of African Football.
Drogba's Stamford Bridge team-mate and Ghana midfielder Michael
Essien was third with 36 votes.
Arsenal defenders Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure and Tottenham
midfielder Didier Zokora, all Ivory Coast internationals, were
named in the team of the year with Chelsea rivals Drogba and Essien
the other Premiership stars to feature.
