Essien makes final shortlist

... for CAF Best Player award
Accra, Jan. 14 - Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien for the third time in succession made it to the final shortlist for the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Player of the Year award. A statement on the official website of the continent's soccer governing body culled by GNA Sports said the Chelsea midfielder will compete with Egyptian playmaker Mohamed Aboutreika and Togolese striker, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor for the prestigious individual honour in African football.

This is the third time Essien, currently nursing an injury has made it to the final shortlist of the annual awards. In 2006, his Chelsea club-mate Didier Drogba beat him and Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o for the award.

Last year, Malian striker Fredric Kanoute won the topmost honour ahead of Essien and Drogba.
The final nominees announced by CAF in Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday makes Essien the only Ghanaian in contention for a prize at the awards gala fixed for February 10 in the Nigerian capital. The winner will be decided by votes from coaches of the 53 national associations affiliated to CAF.
For the newly created Glo-CAF Player across Africa, the nominees are Ahmed Hassan (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Flavio Amado (Al-Ahly and Angola), Mohamed Aboutreika (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Stephen Worgu (Enyimba and Nigeria) and Tresor Mputu Mabi (T.P. Mazembe and DR Congo). The National Team of the Year will be battled amongst Cameroon, Egypt and Nigeria whilst Al-Ahly (Egypt), Club Sportif Sfaxien (Tunisia) and Coton Sport (Cameroon) compete for the Best Team of the Year. The Best Young Player award meant for footballers under the age of 23 will be between Salomon Kalou (Chelsea and Cote d'Ivoire), Stephane Mbia (Stade Rennais and Cameroon) and Victor Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan and Nigeria).
The Women's footballer of the year will be contested among Alice Mattlou (South Africa), Genevova Anonma (Equatorial Guinea) and Ngo Ndoumbouk Marlyse (Cameroon).
Alain Oumbledon (Coton Sport), Hassan Shehata (Egypt national team) and Jose Manuel (Al-Ahly) will vie for the Coach of the Year award. Former Black Star players, Ibrahim Sunday, Abdul Karim Razak and Abedi Pele Ayew remain the only Ghanaians to have won the Africa Best Player award player since its inception five decades ago.