Who do you think was overlooked?

El Hadji Diouf has been named as Caf's African Footballer of the Year 2002.

Winners' list

But do you think he deserved to win?

The player only scored twice in international matches last year, has failed to dominate at Liverpool and was severely reprimanded for spitting at fans.

Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam was voted the Young Player of the Year, but he has been forced to leave Ajax Amsterdam because of continuing disciplinary problems.

Does this send the wrong message?

Have your say using the form on the right.

All I can say is that for Liverpool to pay �10 million for Diouf, he must have a fantastic agent. He can't tackle, has a poor touch and must be colour blind as he cannot seem to identify who is on his team in order to pass to them!
Rob, London

He does not deserve it . Mido is more vibrant and skillful as well as more consistant.
Oscar Ambrosini, Tripoli

Let's give the devil his due. Diouf's performance was the most spectacular of the African sides.

Let's give the devil his due Bamba Gaye, Holly Springs USA

Africa has never been represented by a gallant footballer like him who grabbed the attraction of the whole world for the entire tournament. The entire continent is proud of him.
Bamba Gaye, Holly Springs USA

He absolutely deserves to win the award. Diouf is a talented player. When I first saw him play, I immediately told my friends that Africa has a class player like Maradona or Zico. He has a great touch and incredible ball protection. Keep up the good work brother.
JB Faay, USA

Hands down, Diouf was the rightful winner for the african footballer of the year. Besides creating scoring chances for his country and club, diouf commands the most attention from defenders, so please give the brother his due.
Gerald Ajayi, NY, USA

I don't know about Diouf. I think a Senegalese should get the award but not him. The player that really makes the Lions roar is Fadiga. Without him they are mediocre. Congrats to Diouf but there are other squad members that deserve a look. The goalie, Sylva, had an awesome year as well.
Daniel George, USA

Let's stop being sentimental here. The contributions Diouf made to his country's Nations Cup achievements in 2002 are huge. Come to think of it, he showed exclusive class to defenders at the World Cup. Most of Senegal's goals are engineered by Diouf. I'm not supporting Diouf spitting at people, but if you know what black players go through in Europe, you wouldn't blame him.
Dovi Aamuzu, Nigeria

In all honesty, the award rightly belongs to El Hadji Diouf. May I ask all those who disagree, have you scanned the Cameroonian, South African, Tunisia and Nigerian teams at the last World Cup? If your assessment is fair and just, doesn't Diouf deserve his due? Let us Africans not tell the world that, even in sentiments, we cannot recognise what is best.
Afolabi Gambari, Lagos/Nigeria

Well done Hadji. I have seen you play for Liverpool this season, and you haven't had the credit for what you've done. The amount of work and trickery that you have brought to a very lacklustre Liverpool side has been a great relief.

Cantona is regarded as a football icon, but he jumped, spat and stamped on players and fans Ian Cartledge, Liverpool

Keep it up and you will improve ten-fold. Lay off the young lad. Cantona is regarded as a football icon, but he jumped, spat, stamped on players and fans, and is still looked on as a great footballer.
Ian Cartledge, Liverpool

I don't know the criteria which was used. If a player does well on the field and his behavour is otherwise, he should not be considered. At least this will send a message to the young and coming ones that to win an award it requires discipline both on and off the field. Respect is earned when the awards is difficult to achieved.
Evans Asamaoh, Oxford, UK

The Caf footballer of the year is fast losing it's shine. To me it seems they predetermine their favourites every year, good performance or not. Isn't it scandalous that Joseph Yobo and others like him were not even given a mention? For Diouf winning the award I can only say, "Let the continent keep celebrating mediocrity and indiscipline".
Bamidele Adetunji, Lagos, Nigeria

No and a big no. Just how a player who spits at fans and turns round to justify it, scores just twice at the international level despite playing almost every game should pick up the award is bizarre.

This places Diouf in the same class as Abedi Pele and George Weah. Give me a break! Mikel, Ghana

Bouba Diop should have had it for his three World Cup goals. History would remember Diouf as the player who won two awards for his flamboyance rather than football prowess. And this places him in the same class as Abedi Pele and George Weah. Give me a break!
Mikel, Ghana

It doesn't really matter who wins because there wasn't really anybody who was spectacular last year. So yes, Diouf can take it because Senegal gave Africa it's best moment in the World Cup and Diouf had more than a decent outing. Meanwhile, will Caf reconsider staging the awards at the end of each year to make it clearer to the average football fan?
Rodney Nwabuokei, Abuja, Nigeria.

I think the award is good omen,for Diouf and Senegal,he rightly deserves it. But I think a player like Julios Aghahowa should have been at least a contender.
Simon Ossy Nkemakolam, Senegal