Last Updated: 2005-02-12 19:18:35

Caf award to go to Eto'o

Samuel Eto'o Fils says he will be named Caf's Footballer of the Year

Samuel Eto'o Fils will be crowned Caf's African Footballer of the Year for the second year running next week, BBC Sport can reveal.

Although the identity of the winner is meant to be a closely guarded secret, the Cameroon striker let the cat out of the bag following their midweek friendly win over Senegal in France.

He told members of the Indomitable Lions that the Confederation of African Football have told him that he will be named the continent's top player of 2004 at their annual awards dinner in Durban on Tuesday.

A BBC Sport correspondent was present when the Barcelona forward broke the news to his fellow Indomitable Lions.

But Eto'o is highly unlikely to be in Durban to receive the award, as he has said that he will be playing in Fifa's Football for Hope charity match in Barcelona to raise funds for victims of the Asian tsunami.

The other contenders for the award are Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast and the Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha.

Eto'o finished the 2003-2004 season with a total of 17 goals for Real Mallorca and that strike rate persuaded Barcelona to pay US$29.41 million for the 23-year-old.

This year's Caf African Footballer of the Year has been will be chosen by the national coaches of the continent's 52 member associations.

In the past the winner of the award had been elected by the 31 members of the Confederation of African Football's media and technical committees.

Culled from the BBC Sport website

Link | 2005-02-14 06:53
kegnas (owerri)

this is partaility. okocha desesrves it this time.
this is foul play of the highest order
i hate the caf award.

Link | 2005-02-14 14:14
Stanley Mcking N. (jos)

I AM VERY SORRY TO SAY THAT MOST NIGERIANS DON'T THE RIGHT THING WHEN AND WHERE IT IS NEEDED BECAUSE THIS SO CALLED "GIANT OF AFRICA" IS CONFUSING THEM A LOT. HOWEVER,THOSE OF THEM IN THE NFA WILL NOT FIGHT RATHER THEIR PLANS ARE JUST FOR MONEY NOT WORK AT ALL.

IF CAF FAIL TO GIVE JAY JAY THIS AWARD THIS YEAR, I LAUGH BECAUSE IT'S HIGH TIME WE FOUGHT FOR OUR RIGHT... ONE PERSON CAN'T BE BETTER THAN ALL OF US.

Link | 2005-02-15 15:33
Iso Bassey (London)

The fact that the Nigerian FA or Christian Chukwu or both parties failed to ensure that a vote was cast for Jay-Jay is shameful to say the least. This has once again highlighted the failures in Nigeria's football administration.

This not withstanding, it is my opinion that Samuel Eto is a worthy winner.

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Caf award to go to Eto'o

Link | 2005-02-14 06:53 kegnas (owerri)

Link | 2005-02-14 14:14 Stanley Mcking N. (jos)

Link | 2005-02-15 15:33 Iso Bassey (London)

CAF

Sport Vote

Link | 2005-02-14 06:53
kegnas (owerri)

Link | 2005-02-14 14:14
Stanley Mcking N. (jos)

Link | 2005-02-15 15:33
Iso Bassey (London)