Drogba is African King

Didier Drogba was crowned the 2006 African Footballer of the Year, Thursday night at Accra's Convention Centre, Ghana. as he beat his closest rivals Samuel Eto'o of Cameroun and and his Chelsea FC of England team mate, Micheal Essien of Ghana to second and third place respectively.

Drogba who was clearly the fans' favourite for the Awards, recieved a roar of approval, as he strode onto the stage dressesed in a multi coloured headscarf and an imperious walking staff, resplendent with a carved elephant at the head of the stick to symbolise his Ivorian roots.

In the 2005 edition, Eto'o had warded off the Ivorian striker by a mere two votes; this time the tables were turned as Drogba came tops with a five point margin over the Cameroonian.

The vocal Ghanian audience were visibly disappointmented as their top star Micheal .Essien could only manage a distant third in the voting for the African Footballer of the Year award.

Drogba and Essien arrived Ghana from London on a private jet for the event, no doubt it will be Drogba's party on the return flight.