BBC World Service’s flagship sports programme for Africa, Fast Track, has revealed the shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2009 vote, as selected by football experts throughout Africa. It includes Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon), Tresor Mputu Mabi (TP Mazembe and DR Congo) and Yaya Toure (Barcelona and Ivory Coast).
Host of Fast Track, Farayi Mungazi, comments: “It’s a fascinating list. It’s really nice to see a player such as Mputu Mabi, who plays in Africa, alongside the African stars playing in the Premiership or European leagues.
“It’ll be a shock to some fans that last year’s African Footballer of the Year winner, Mohamed Aboutrika of Al Ahly and Egypt, hasn’t made it into the 2009 final five. But this award is designed to focus on the performance over the past 12 months. This year’s contest could be really hard-fought.”
The voting starts at 17.00 GMT today, Monday 30 November, and will run until Monday 4 January 2010.
Fans can vote online at bbcworldservice.com/africanfootball and by SMS to +447786 200 070.
The winner will be announced in Fast Track live from Angola on Friday 8 January 2010.
On Sunday 10 January 2010, BBC World Service will bring full coverage of the opening game of Africa Cup of Nations in Luanda.
Fast Track is part of BBC World Service’s English-language programming for audiences across Africa, offering a comprehensive coverage of African sport. With his eye on sport right across the globe, the host, Farayi Mungazi, brings to the microphone a deep understanding of global sport. Farayi discusses the issues and asks the questions that every sports fan wants to hear.
Fast Track is broadcast on Mondays and Fridays (16.00 GMT) and on Sundays (18.20 GMT).
vote 2 for Eto’o
vote 2 for Eto’o because of his tremendous achievements last season with FC Bareclone and qualifying for the Lions of Cameroon for south Africa 2010 world cup.
vote 2 for Eto’o because of his tremendous achievements last season with FC Bareclone and for qualifying the Lions of Cameroon for south Africa 2010 world cup.
dider drogba is my favorite african footballer of the year.
For me Didier Drogba is the African Footballer of the Year. Despite his behaviour during the match between Chelsea and Barcelona, and suspension, he is inform since his return.We all want fair play,it shouldn’t be for only the players, but also the match officials.
For both his country and team he is doing well. Wish him well.
I’ll like to vote for Michael Essien of Chelsea and Ghana.
vote for mputu mabi this guy is great he has made congo to champions in chan and tp mazembe to be the champions of african league
look the guy has talent and look all the game this man is playing, you will see what am talking about give him the opportinuty.
I would like to vote Didier Drogba for the award considering his performance in both his club side and his country side after securing a ticket for them place in South Africa next year. He should be given the award he remain the best candidate for me.
Michael Essien is the best footballer in Africa considering his contributions to club and nation.He is the best
defensive midfielder in the world.
I am pleased to vote for Samuel Eto of Cameroon and Inter Milan as the BBC African footballer of the year 2009.
To make a choice among those guys is some how difficult because they have all shown spendid perform in thier individual club and country.However, I hereby vote for Didier Drogba as the BBC African Footballer of the year.Drogba produces goal when it is desperately needed.
Didier Drogba.
There’s no doubt that these group of players perform creditablly well last season both to their club and their country in general,But i’ll vote for Samuel Eto’o Fils-this guy is one lad that has kept his form since 2007,always topping the scoring chart.He contributed to the success of Barcelona last season by helping them to win treble which no other club in Spain has been able to acheive. I think he deserves this award more than any one else. However,that is not to say that others did not merit it, but one person must go home with it and i believe it ‘ll be Eto’o.
I vote Samuel Eto’o Fils as the BBC African footballer of the year 2009.This guy form and consistency is something to write home about.He has done his country proud and indeed motherland-African.He’s a true ambassador of the round leather game.
please give chance to one of the best striker in africa mputu mabi tresor and look what i do last year for club and country, trust me is a bbc player of the year .
I vote for Samuel Eto’o as the BBC African Footballer of the year 2009, for consistency and a cool head.
These players have all made Africa proud due to their wonderful performances.But the one who made Africa to be on the submit is Samuel Eto`o
I think Samuel Eto´o should be BBC african footballer of 2009 because of his treble last season and his immense contribution.Every time Samuel Eto´o gets to a champions league final,he manages to score a goal.
I live to wonder why Ade bayor was not also included on the list of best african footballers of the year 2009….As a matter of fact this has saddened me so much but i however appreciate that my man Etoo is there representing the continent. Further i would also like to emphasise on the fact that we have so much hidden talents in Africa which are yet to be descovered and exploited at an internation level and i have a strong belief the time has come. My vote goes to the man Etoo
Samuel Etoo deserves the award
i vote samuel eto for his achievements in the qualifiers champions league and liga . i think the award has passed him in previous editions cause of his francophone backgroud
m essien
My vote goes to Samuel Eto.There,s no argument about the fact that he is the best footballer in Africa at present.
He did not only play in the European champs league which his team won,but also contributed imensely to the success of his former club{FC BARCA}.
He also played a very big part and has been very consistent in his country,s World cup and African nations cup qualifiers.
He is a very loyal and obedient player who I believe is a role model for other African footballers especially the young one,s.
CARRY GO ETO.
Didier Drogba is 2009 player of the year.
My vote goes to no other person than Samuel Eto’o Fils, this guy consistency and form is overwhelming.
voted for D drogba with heart n soul
I am voting for Dider Drogba as he is a super star of the world let alone Africa. He is a spice of football. Drogba is a very reason for my love for football. I wish him all the best.
i voted for Michael Essien, he is fantastic midfilder i like to watch moving with the ball. both his feet grounded, he makes it hard for opponent to get the ball. and out of Chelseas three or two goals one or two passes will come from him.Anytime he is on unjury list it makes hard for the team to win
My vote is for Didier Drogba for his consistent display at Chelsea. Drogba is a phenominal player and arguably the best striker in the world right now.
Hi, my name is Fikre Jida , I am from the country Ethiopia .And my best player for the year is Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast), becuase he did so many things to his club Chelsea and country . Special for his club , I can say he was /is the back bone of the club Chelsea FC. With out Drogba Chelsea may not be successful .Drogba was /is not only player but also the psychology of Club.
i vote samuel etoo,he has done very well this year,he is poineer of the success of bacelone even if he was treated bad to leave bacelone,he is an icon to remember in this year victory for africa.winning the campions leaugue,spainish leaugue,copa the ray.for me he the king of soccer in africa his year.he also doing well in italy.
M. Essien full stop. This is not to say that the five listed are not good.It’s b’cos he is a complete package.he scores the most difficult goals,he passes the ball very well,he has an excellent ball control, He is very difficult to be deposessed and also very good in defence.who wouldn’t love to have such a player in his team?
m essien
l really love to cast my vote for Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast), payer he is the one l really love to see as the next africa footballer of the year becouse is paying the best of football in europ na. for na is the only africa payer l see doing very well in europ and l think he deserve to be the next footballer of the year. l wish hime to wine. from innocent, am a nigeria but base in norway.
my name is innocent and am a nigeria but am base in norway l pay my football with bergen north football team here in norway…. l really love to cast my vote for Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast), he is the only payer l see na in europ that is paying the best of football na in europ, without no that he is a super soccer both in chelsea and ivory coast. as a footballer that l am l admiral him alots as a payer and hoping to pay and be like him in future. drogba is my next africa footballer of the year.
Eto is that guy that was very instrumental for the tripple truphies that his team had in 2009 also he qualified cameroon alongside his mates for the african cup of nations and the world cup.He has been an a very big boy in lifting the african continent high in the world of football i will give him my vote.
ok thanks
I vote for Tresor Mputu Mabi of TP Mazembe FC because having played and coached for many years in Central Africa at the highest level I know the magical skills this exciting player whose aura can only be compared with that of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
My vote goes to Samuel Eto’o. He’s been an integral figure in Cameroon’s qualification into the world cup. On club level, he was part of what i like to call the holy Trinity of Barcelona’s attack which literally walked past every defence they came across. His goal against utd in the Champion’s league final had speed and precision written all over it. One blink of the eye and you missed it. That goal I believe, allowed Barcelona do what they do best, contain the ball, as the entire utd team were anonymous. This is not to say that the other nominees were not exceptional but for me Eto’o had a phenomenal year considering that he had had a bad season in 2007/08. Eto’o, my vote is yours
i vote for didier drogba
I vote 4 didier DRobga.I really love essien but drogba is the best.
Am voting number 2 for Micheal Essien
Micheal essien
My vote goes to the ivorian icon, Didier Drogba
i strongly agreed to give my vote to Didier Drogba because he tells about Africa’s potential to the rest of the world and i belive that he is a roll model for africans and he can do everything in football.
My vote goes to Eto.
This guy is extremely good for he controls the ball and makes the goals unlike others who simply make the goals.
Please we should understand the time frame of this award.It covers but the 2008-2009 football season.We all love all our African brothers mensioned above,but we are not here to vote bc of love but to be truthfull.If you look at the season 2008-2009,then there is no one else than Samuel Etoo to grap this.Even Drogba has said Etoo merits all the trophies of last season.He is one of the few africans to have achieve such a treeple.Champions league(he scored in the finals as always),spanish king cup,spanish league,qulified country for nations cup and world cup.So brothers what else do you want.Etoo should have it this year.thanks
my vote goes to Didier Drogba becouse his contribution to his country for qualifying world cup 2010 south africa
Sammuel etoo is definitely de man for dis award.y’all
iust checkon his incredible performance at the champions
League finals.I here by stand for him.