Chelsea Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Rafael Benitez

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42440

African award for Drogba

02 Mar 2007 - 09:14:19

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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been named African Footballer of the Year for 2006 after Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o had won the three previous awards.

The 28-year-old Ivory Coast international captained his country to the African Cup of Nations final last year where they lost on penalties to Egypt.

Ivory Coast also reached the finals of the World Cup for the first time in 2006 and they impressed despite failing to progress from a group that also included Argentina, Holland and Serbia & Montenegro.

Drogba also helped Chelsea secure a second successive Premiership title.

His Blues team-mate Michael Essien finished third for the second consecutive year while Eto'o came second.

Drogba won 79 votes, five more than Cameroon international Eto'o, while Ghana midfielder Essien polled 36 votes.

Marseille's Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo was named best young African footballer while Ghana were chosen as international team of the year.