Didier Drogba has been named the African Player of the Year for the second time in his career.
The Chelsea striker previously won the honour in 2006 and has been in the top three places on four other occasions.
On Thursday evening of what is his 32nd birthday, Drogba beat the challenges from other nominees Michael Essien and Samuel Eto'o to receive the 2009 award.
The winner is voted by the national coaches from the 54 countries affiliated to the Confederation of African Football.
Unable to be at the ceremony in Ghana due to his Chelsea training commitments, it was collected on Drogba's behalf by an official of the Ivorian Football Federation.
Both Drogba and Essien were named in the African Best XI for 2009.
Essien was quick to congratulate his Chelsea team mate and friend. Speaking from his rehab camp in France he said:
'Congratulations to Didier for winning this superb award. He has worked hard over the last year for Chelsea and Ivory Coast and he deserves every award he wins.
'The winner is chosen by people who know and understand the game and all three of us in the running would have loved to have won it, but there can be only one winner and this time it is Didier - Well done mate.
'I hope this is a sign of things to come in the upcoming Chelsea versus Inter Champions League game. For a Chelsea player to beat an Inter player Eto'o for the award could be a good omen ahead of the game.'
The Chelsea striker previously won the honour in 2006 and has been in the top three places on four other occasions.
On Thursday evening of what is his 32nd birthday, Drogba beat the challenges from other nominees Michael Essien and Samuel Eto'o to receive the 2009 award.
The winner is voted by the national coaches from the 54 countries affiliated to the Confederation of African Football.
Unable to be at the ceremony in Ghana due to his Chelsea training commitments, it was collected on Drogba's behalf by an official of the Ivorian Football Federation.
Both Drogba and Essien were named in the African Best XI for 2009.
Essien was quick to congratulate his Chelsea team mate and friend. Speaking from his rehab camp in France he said:
'Congratulations to Didier for winning this superb award. He has worked hard over the last year for Chelsea and Ivory Coast and he deserves every award he wins.
'The winner is chosen by people who know and understand the game and all three of us in the running would have loved to have won it, but there can be only one winner and this time it is Didier - Well done mate.
'I hope this is a sign of things to come in the upcoming Chelsea versus Inter Champions League game. For a Chelsea player to beat an Inter player Eto'o for the award could be a good omen ahead of the game.'
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