Samuel Eto'o was the Caf Footballer of the Year in 2005

The other contenders for the most prestigious individual award on the continent are Chelsea team-mates Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast striker, and Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien.

Only two points separated Eto'o and Drogba last year and another close call is expected between two of the most prolific strikers in Europe as Ghana hosts the annual ceremony for the first time.

There are six other African awards up for grabs - Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, Club Footballer of the Year, Club of the Year, Young Footballer of the Year and Female Footballer of the Year.

Eto'o is aiming to overtake three-time African Footballer of the Year Abedi 'Pele' Ayew of Ghana.

Liberia legend George Weah also topped the poll three times but not in consecutive years, a feat 'Pele' achieved from 1991 when he was playing for French club Olympique Marseille.

Eto'o was a pivotal figure as Barcelona won the European Champions League and Spanish title last year and his five goals made him leading scorer at the biennial African Nations Cup won by hosts Egypt.

Drogba helped Ivory Coast take Egypt to a penalty shootout in the Nations Cup decider, upstaged Eto'o by making it to the World Cup, and was a frequent scorer for English champions Chelsea.

Essien was third last year and a similar fate probably awaits the combative footballer in his home country despite inspiring Ghana to a first appearance at the World Cup, where they reached the second round before bowing to Brazil.

Selected Confederation of African Football (Caf) committee members choose the shortlists with the winners decided by a vote among national coaches on the continent.

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:

Boussoufa Mbark - Morocco, Anderlecht (Belgium)
Asamoah Gyan - Ghana, Udinese (Italy)
Taye Taiwo - Nigeria, Marseille (France)

Female Player of the Year:

Cynthia Uwak (Nigeria)
Sheila Okai (Ghana)
Portia Modise (South Africa)

Coach of the Year:

Hassan Shehata - Egypt national team (Egypt)
Manuel Jose - Ahly (Egypt)
Patrick Liewig- Asec Mimosas - Ivory Coast

National Team of the Year:

Ivory Coast
Egypt
Ghana

Inter-clubs Player of the Year:

Mohamed Aboutrika - Ahly (Egypt)
Nafti Abdelkerim - Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Didier Ya Konan - Asec Mimosas (Ivory Coast)

Inter-Club Team of the Year:

Ahly (Egypt)
Asec Mimosas (Ivory Coast)
Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)