Eto'o is in line for a record third Caf Footballer of the Year award

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o is strongly fancied to win a record third straight African Footballer of the Year award in Nigeria on Thursday.

Having been named the Confederation of African Football's best player in both 2003 and 2004, the 25-year-old is travelling with a large contigent to the Nigerian capital Abuja.

The forward's goalscoring exploits with Spanish champions Barcelona and his displays for the Indomitable Lions last year have made him a favourite for the title.

But he faces tough competition from Ivorian forward Didier Drogba and Ghana's Michael Essien, both of whom helped their countries to reach their maiden World Cup finals last year.

Another keenly-contested category will be the National Team of the Year, with the Ivory Coast the favourite for this award.

Yet they will have to beat World Cup first-timers Togo as well as Nigeria's under-20 team, who finished runners-up in last year's World Youth Championship in Holland.

The shortlist for the Coach of the Year category is also interesting.

The man who led Togo to the World Cup, Nigeria's Stephen Keshi, is up for the award - as is Manuel Jose, the coach of Egypt's African champions Ahly.

In the Female Footballer of the Year award, Nigeria's Perpetua Nkwocha will be hoping for a second straight title but she faces stiff opposition from Ghana's Adjoa Bayor, a former winner herself.

Also up for grabs, among other awards, are the Club of the Year and the Young Player of the Year.

Nigeria's teen sensation John Mikel Obi would be a popular winner of the latter trophy, as would his compatriot Taye Taiwo.

African Player of the Year:

Didier Drogba - Ivory Coast, Chelsea (England)
Michael Essien - Ghana, Chelsea (England)
Samuel Eto'o - Cameroon, Barcelona (Spain)

Young Player of the Year:

Ahmed Farag - Egypt, Sochaux (France)
John Mikel Obi - Nigeria, Lyn Oslo (Norway)
Taye Taiwo - Nigeria, Marseille (France)

Female Player of the Year:

Adjoa Bayor (Ghana)
Vera Okolo (Nigeria)
Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria)

Coach of the Year:

Mohamed Fahkir - FAR Rabat (Morocco)
Manuel Jose - Ahly (Egypt)
Stephen Keshi - Togo

National Team of the Year:

Ivory Coast
Nigeria under-20
Togo

Inter-clubs Player of the Year:

Mohamed Barakat - Ahly (Egypt)
Eguakun Efosa - Dolphin (Nigeria)
Adil Sarraj - FAR Rabat (Morocco)

Inter-Club Team of the Year:

Ahly (Egypt)
FAR Rabat (Morocco)
Etoile Sahel (Tunisia)