Chelsea’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba has asked not to be nominated for the African Player of the Year award in future after claiming he was denied the 2007 trophy because he was unable to attend the ceremony.
Striker Drogba, who won the title in 2006, claims he was told he had retained the award until he made it clear he would be unable to collect the prize due to his commitments at the African Nations Cup.
Mali’s former West Ham and Tottenham forward Frederic Kanoute received the award, but Drogba is unhappy about being denied the accolade.
“I was told if I didn’t appear the rules would change and the prize would go to the runner-up,” he told BBC Sport.
“If I refused to go to Lome it was first for my team-mates, as you don’t organise such an event just two days before a quarter-final (yesterday’s Nations Cup clash with Guinea).
“This attitude doesn’t honour Africa so I’ve pulled out of future elections.
“We’re all working for the African continent, there’s a huge media presence in Ghana for a competition that was heavily criticised 10 years ago.
“So there comes a time when we all have to pull together.”
