 Samuel Eto'o was voted Africa's top player in 2003 |
The next African Footballer of the Year will be chosen by the national coaches of the continent's 52 member associations. The winner of the award has previously been elected by the 31 members of the Confederation of African Football's media and technical committees.
But critics of the system have long argued for coaches to be given a say in who is crowned the continent's top footballer.
Caf has given no reason for the change but it is widely believed that Africa's ruling body wants to bring its award in line with Fifa's World Player of the Year.
National managers, team captains and representatives from FIFPro (the worldwide representative organisation for professional players) choose the winner of the Fifa award.
Caf will nominate five finalists before the end of the year and the winner will be announced at a ceremony in Johannesburg on 13 February.
Nigeria's Jay-Jay Okocha, who plays for English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers, is the favourite to take the award.
Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Barcelona's Cameroonian star Samuel Eto'o - the 2003 winner - are also in the running.
MMIX
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