Ahli duo Mohamed Abou-Treika and Flavio Amado have been included in the shortlist for the 2006 BBC African Footballer of the Year award. Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Michael Essien of Ghana, who both play for English champions Chelsea, were nominated in the five-man list. Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, who guided his club to Spanish League and UEFA Champions League glories, was also among the nominees. The 28-year-old Abou-Treika has enjoyed a very successful year. He played a pivotal role in Egypt's record-breaking fifth African Cup of Nations on home ground in February. Abou-Treika also helped his club, Ahli, retain their local and African Champions League, finishing as top-scorer in both competitions.
Flavio The former Tersana player also guided Ahli to the Egyptian Cup title and local and continental Super Cup trophies. Abou-Treika was recently short-listed for the 2006 African Player of the Year award along with Drogba, Eto'o, Essien and Portsmouth Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu. After enduring a difficult first year with Ahli, Angolan striker Flavio shrugged off criticism with his displays for his national team and the Cairo giants. He scored his country's only goal in the 2006 World Cup and contributed to Ahli's African glory. Flavio scored nine goals in the Egyptian League so far, just one behind top scorer Ahmed Hassan, who plays for Ghazl Mahalla. Ahli midfielder Mohamed Barakat was the last player to claim the award in 2005.
