Angry Drogba to shun future player awards after Africa snub

DIDIER DROGBA says he does not wish to be considered for future African player of the year awards after Frederic Kanoute won the 2007 title.

The Ivory Coast striker is playing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana and claims he was told he had won but had to travel to Togo to accept the prize.

“I was told if I didn’t appear, the rules would change and the prize would go to the runner-up,” he said.

“This attitude doesn’t honour Africa so I’ve pulled out of future elections.”

Drogba, who won the 2006 award, said it made no sense to have the awards ceremony in another country while such a high-profile African event was ongoing.

“If I refused to go to Lome it was first for my team-mates, as you don’t organise such an event just two days before a quarter-final,” the Chelsea forward said.

“I didn’t go as well because of the son of Ulrich Stilieke (the former Ivory Coast coach) has died. We’re all working for the African continent, there’s a huge media presence for a competition heavily criticised 10 years ago. There comes a time when we all have to pull together.”

Ivory Coast spokesman Jean-Claude Djacus said the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had “brought itself into disrepute” by its handling of the affair.

CAF spokesman Suleiman Habuba said that there was nothing sinister in Kanoute winning the accolade.

When asked directly if CAF had threatened Drogba that he would not win the award if he did not go to Lome, Habuba denied the accusation.

He also denied Drogba was the rightful winner of the trophy. “The CAF executive committee announced the winner, Frederic Kanoute, after the vote was counted,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brad Friedel has extended his contract at Blackburn by a year. The new deal means the American goalkeeper will stay at Ewood Park until June 2010, completing 10 seasons of service to the League club.

The 36-year-old, who has started every league fixture in the last four seasons, said: “I’m delighted to have extended the agreement by a further 12 months. It was not a difficult decision.

“Blackburn Rovers is home to me. This is my club and I have a special affinity with it.”

Friedel, who joined Rovers from Liverpool in 2000, played his 300th league game in English football against Everton at the weekend. He also set a new club record for Premier League appearances against Fulham in November, overtaking former captain Tim Sherwood’s total of 235.