Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o was named African footballer of the year for the second consecutive time on Tuesday.
The announcement came as no surprise after Eto’o told teammates of his impending triumph after a friendly match against Senegal in France last week and several journalists overheard the conversation.
But the result will be a bitter blow to Nigerian football followers who believed veteran midfielder Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha would win after being voted top player of the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia.
Eto’o could not receive the award personally at a lavish ceremony in Durban as because he was scheduled to play in a charity match in Barcelona later on Tuesday for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster last December.
In a repeat of last year, the other finalists were Côte d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba and Okocha, who play for English Premieship clubs Chelsea and Bolton respectively.
While Eto’o failed to sparkle in a disappointing Cameroon team at the Nations Cup, he has been outstanding for Spanish league leaders Barcelona, scoring 17 goals in 23 appearances this season.
Brazilian superstar and reigning world footballer of the year Ronaldinho was glowing in his praise of Barca team-mate Eto’o this week.
”Samuel is undoubtedly the most dangerous attacking player in the Spanish championship and often makes the difference when Barcelona face other leading clubs,” said Ronaldinho.
Eto’o is only the fourth African star after Ghana midfielder Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew, Liberia striker George Weah and Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf to win the Footballer of the Year title in successive years.
Born in the Cameroon town of Nkon 23 years ago, Eto’o played for Union Douala before heading to Spain and spells with Real Madrid, Leganes and Real Mallorca before joining Barcelona last year.
He helped Cameroon win the African Nations Cup in 2000 and 2002 and the 2000 Sydney Olympics football tournament and was a member of the Mallorca team that lifted the Spanish Cup two years ago. – Sapa-AFP