Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been named African Footballer of the Year.
Drogba scored five goals as Ivory Coast qualified for the 2010 World Cup and scored for Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Chelsea team-mate and Michael Essien and Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o were also shortlisted for the award.
Drogba, who turned 32 on Thursday, had previously won the award in 2006, while Algeria were named team of the year at the ceremony in Accra, Ghana.
“I still have the same passion for the game,” said Drogba. “I still feel hungry and I am still chasing medals.
“I feel really good. As I have said in the past it depends on the injuries you get and this season I can say that I am lucky, or I can say that the few months that I took out last year to get my knee well are now paying off.
“Your lifestyle is only as important as your mental approach to the game. If you put in your head that you are 32 and you are old it is going to be difficult.
“I still feel like a kid when I am on the pitch so sometimes Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has to pull me back.”
None of the three shortlisted candidates for the individual award attended the Confederation of African Football (Caf) ceremony.
Ghana striker Dominic Adiyiah picking up the Young Player of the Year award, while Sellas Tetteh was named Coach of the Year having led the Black Stars’ Under-20 side to World Cup success last year.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe and their captain Tresor Mputu Mabi were voted best club and best player on the continet award respectively.
Algeria were rewarded for qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time in 24 years by being named National Team of the Year.
