© EuroFootball.com
The best African footballer in 2006 was chosen as the forward from the London and Ivory Coast national teams. The best footballer was chosen by all 53 African national team coaches. 28-year-old D. Drogba was the captain of his country's national team in the 2006 African Cup of Nations tournament, where Ivory Coast finished 2nd; he also helped his country qualify for the World Cup for the first time, and won the English championship with Chelsea. The award winner received 79 points in the voting. In second place with 74 points was Barcelona and Cameroon national team forward Samuel Eto'o, who triumphed in these awards for the past three years. Third place went to another Chelsea player, defender Michael Essien from Ghana. He received 36 points. D. Drogba became only the third footballer playing in England to become the best in Africa. Previously, this was achieved by former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu from Nigeria (1999) and Senegalese El-Hadji Diouf, who played for Liverpool (2002). The title of the best African young player of the year went to Marseille defender Taye Taiwo from Nigeria. The title of the best club of the year went to Egypt's Al Ahly club, and the coach of this team, Portuguese Manuel Jose, was recognized as the best coach of the continent of the year.
