Eto'o Retains African award

Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was named African Footballer of the Year for the second successive year in Durban on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old earned 116 votes to finish ahead of Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba (90) and Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha (63) in the annual CAF poll.


Eto'o, who was in Barcelona to play in FIFA's tsunami benefit match, spoke briefly by video link saying: "It is a very proud moment for me and for my country."


Eto'o was lauded for his performance in Spain's Primera Liga, where he is the top goal scorer this season with 17 goals to help Barcelona to the top of the standings.


He is only the fourth player in 34 years to win the award in consecutive years, following in the footsteps of Abedi Pele of Ghana, George Weah of Liberia and Senegal striker El-Hadji Diouf.


The Footballer of the Year was decided for the first time by a poll of each CAF member association.


Nigeria failed to vote, however, prejudicing the chances of Okocha, the captain of their national side.

The 31-year-old Okocha, who plays for English Premier League team Bolton Wanderers, made the short-list on the strength of his performances at the African Nations Cup in Tunisia where he was named player of the tournament.


Drogba, who helped Olympique Marseille reach last season's UEFA Cup final before joining England's Chelsea, was named best player in France's Ligue 1


Young Player of the Year: Obafemi Martins (Nigeria and Inter Milan, Italy)


Coach of the Year: Okey Emordi (Enyimba, Nigeria)


Club of the Year: Enyimba (Nigeria)


Team of the Year: Tunisia

Best African Champions League player: Vincent Enyeama (Enyimba, Nigeria)


Goalkeeper of the Year: Ali Boumnijel (Tunisia and Club Africain, Tunisia)


Best goal of the year: Benni McCarthy (South Africa) - Porto (Portugal) versus Manchester United (England), Uefa Champions League, 25 February 2004


Female Footballer of the Year: Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria)