Samuel Eto'o is a contender for his fourth African player of the year title

Samuel Eto'o and his ex-Barcelona team-mates Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita have been named on the shortlist for Caf's African Footballer of the Year award.

All three contributed to Barcelona's unique treble of domestic league and cup, plus the European Champions League title last season.

Eto'o will be the favourite to win the title again, having won the crown three times before.

Chelsea pair Didier Drogba and Michael Essien complete the list.

Eto'o, Toure, Drogba and Essien all helped their countries - Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana - to reach the 2010 World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.

Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor was last year's winner.

Four of the five candidates for the Confederation of African Football (Caf) award are also on the shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year title.

606: DEBATE Who do you think should win?

The Caf crown is decided by international coaches from across the continent whilst the BBC title is voted for by football fans from around the world.

The Caf awards ceremony will take place in the Senegalese capital Dakar on 25 February.

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