Mali and Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute has been awarded the African Footballer of the Year for 2007, Ahmed Morsy reports The Confederation of African Football (CAF) chose Frederic Omar Kanoute, the Mali striker, the 2007 African Footballer of the Year at a ceremony in Lome, Togo on Friday. Kanoute, 29, who becomes the second Malian after the legendary Salif Keita to receive the highest individual prize in African football, beat last year's winner Didier Drogba of Cote d'Ivoire, Samuel Eto'o picking it up previously -- three times in a row -- and Ghana's Michael Essien to the title. Kanoute, who was born in Lyon, played for his native France as a junior international before switching allegiance in 2004 to Mali, the country of his father, to become the first Malian to win the award since Keita took the inaugural title in 1970. The African Footballer of the Year award is voted for by the national coaches of the 53 CAF associations. The nomination came off the back of a brilliant year with Kanoute's club Sevilla picking up the UEFA Cup, the Copa Del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. In addition, he was also the star of their La Liga campaign, and carried Sevilla's title chase into the final day of the season. However, the honour came three days after Mali were eliminated from Ghana 2008 with Kanoute injured in their last game against the Ivorians in the group stage a week ago. Upon receiving the award, Kanoute said: "I dedicate this to my family who could not be here, and to the people of Mali. "I believe that sport can be used as a tool for development in Africa," he added. Dressed in all-white Islamic attire, an overwhelmed Kanoute walked up to receive his award from Togo Prime Minister Komlan Mally who was assisted by CAF President Issa Hayatou. Other awards were given to Côte d'Ivoire as the African team of the year and CAF Champions League winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia as the club of the year. Etoile Sahel striker Amine Chermiti was named the best African club competition player and Zambian Clifford Mulenga Young African Player of the Year. The top 10 players in Africa during the last five decades were also honored: Abedi Pele, Eto'o, Egyptians Mahmoud El-Khatib and Hossam Hassan, Roger Milla, Kalusha Bwalya, George Weah, Rabah Madjer, Drogba and Nwankwo Kanu. The timing of this year's ceremony draw was criticised as it clashed with Africa's showpiece tournament, with Essien refused permission by Ghana to travel the short distance to neighbouring Togo for the ceremony. All annual football awards are usually presented in December. Meanwhile, Drogba has vowed to boycott future Africa Footballer of Year awards ceremonies because he says the award given to Kanoute was originally meant for him. The England-based player, who was not released for the event in Lome because of national team commitments, claims Kanoute won the award because of his absence. The event was organised two days before the Elephants' quarter-final clash with Guinea in the MTN Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday and Drogba says the decision to strip him of the awards is bad for the image of African football. "In my eyes this award has lost its value. I'm a simple player, the decision that I take doesn't hurt a lot of people," Drogba said. "We're all working for the African continent, there's a huge media presence in Ghana for a competition that was heavily criticised ten years ago. So there comes a time when we all have to pull together. I don't think this type of attitude honours Africa so I've decided to pull out of future elections for the Africa Footballer of the Year Awards. "I received a call in the afternoon of the day of the ceremony from a high-ranking CAF official. He told me that if I didn't appear at the ceremony the rules would be changed, that I would no longer be first and that the prize would go to the runner-up, Frederic Kanoute." Drogba also criticised the staging of the awards ceremony during the MTN Africa Cup of Nations saying attending the event in the Togolese capital would have disrespectful to his Elephants colleagues. "If I refused to go to Lome it was first for my teammates as you don't organise such an event just two days before a quarter-final," the Chelsea striker said. "I didn't go as well because the son of Uli Stielike (the former Cote d'Ivoire coach) has died." Stielike had to quit as coach just two weeks before the tournament kicked off after his son lapsed into a coma and was replaced by Frenchman Gerard Gili.
