The Confederation of African Football (Caf) named Cameroon striker Samuel Eto`o as the continent`s Footballer of the Year for the second year running on Tuesday.
In a widely-tipped result, the Barcelona player earned 116 votes to finish ahead of Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba (90) and Nigerian midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha (63).
For the first time, the player of the year was decided by a poll of each of Caf`s member associations and Eto`o becomes only the fourth player to win the award in consecutive years.
Yet the 23-year-old was not in the South African city of Durban to collect his trophy since he is participating in Fifa`s charity match for victims of the Asian tsunami in Barcelona`s Camp Nou.
"It is a very proud moment for me and my country," the Indomitable Lion announced by video link.
Unsurprisingly, last year`s African champions Tunisia were among the evening`s other major winners as the Carthage Eagles were named team of the year.
Yet the coach of the year award went to Okey Emordi, who guided Nigeria`s Enyimba to a successful defence of their Champions League trophy.
Enyimba were also named the African club of the year following their defeat of Tunisia`s
EtoileSahel in the final last December.
Two other Nigerians celebrating awards were Obafemi Martins of Italy`s Inter Milan, who retained his young player of the year award, and Vincent Enyeama, who was named the best player in last year`s Champions League.
Meanwhile, South African striker Benni McCarthy won goal of the year for his second strike, a stunning header, for Portugal`s eventual European champions Porto against Manchester United last February.
THE MAJOR WINNERS AT CAF`S 2004 AWARDS
Footballer of the Year: Samuel Eto`o (Cameroon and Barcelona, Spain)
Young Player of the Year: Obafemi Martins (Nigeria and Inter Milan, Italy)
Coach of the Year: Okey Emordi (Enyimba, Nigeria)
Club of the Year: Enyimba (Nigeria)
Team of the Year: Tunisia
Best African Champions League player: Vincent Enyeama (Enyimba, Nigeria)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Ali Boumnijel (Tunisia and Club Africain, Tunisia)
Best goal of the year: Benni McCarthy (South Africa) - Porto (Portugal) versus Manchester United (England), Uefa Champions League, 25 February 2004
Female Footballer of the Year: Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria)
