The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday in Lagos released the names of top five nominees for the Glo/CAF African Footballer of the Year Awards slated for Togo February 1, 2008.
But surprisingly, no Nigerian player makes the list dominated by Super Eagles Nations Cup foes.
Three of the five nominees are from Cote d’ Ivoire and Mali, Nigeria group game opponents.
Those named by CAF for the most prestigious continental football award are the current African Footballer of the Year and Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba from Cote d’ Ivoire, Sevila striker, Federik Kanoute from Mali, Real Madrid midfielder, Mamadou Diarra also from Mali, Chelsea and Ghana midfielder, Mike Essien and Arsenal striker, Emmanuel Adebayor from Togo.
CAF Head of Communications, Habuba Suleimon, who announced the names, said the names would be send to all the 53 countries that make CAF for voting where three would be selected by these countries coaches for the award proper in February.
Suleiman said the nominations were made in conformity with the highest standards of transparency and merit.
He praised Globacom for providing a platform to celebrate African football, noting that "while we are yet to have nominees form the domestic African league, the support of Globacom for national leagues will in the near future yield dividends as players from the domestic league will get nominated"
Globacom Executive Director, Legal Services, Mrs Gladys Talabi, in her welcome address promised that all nominees would be flown to the event, other illustrious African stars inclusive.
She said through the Glo/CAF Awards, Globacom has made African players to be proud of their accomplishments in the field of football.
"This, we consider the highest point of our involvement with the awards and we are determined to take the event to higher heights. The last two editions of the awards ceremony held in Abuja for 2005 and Accra for 2006 were marked departure from what it used to be and this time in Lome, Togo, we are determined to take it some notches up," she said.
The NFA Chairman, Sani Abdullahi Lulu was represented by board member, Bola Jegede and Secretary General, Bolaji Ojo-Oba. Also in attendance were suspended NFL Chairman, Chief Oyuki Obaseki, Mike Itemuagbor of Pamodzi Sports and Dr. Rafiu Ladipo of the Supporters Club.