Drogba unhappy at award snub

Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba has asked not to be considered for the African Player of the Year award in future years after claiming he was beaten to the 2007 trophy because he was unable to attend the ceremony.

Striker Drogba, who won the title in 2006, insists he was in line to retain the award until he made it clear he would not be leaving Ghana – where he is spearheading the Ivory Coast’s bid to win the African Nations Cup – to collect the prize in Lome, Togo.

Mali’s former West Ham and Tottenham forward Frederic Kanoute was eventually handed the accolade, but Drogba is unhappy about what he claims is a flawed process.

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

“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 (against Guinea).

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

“We’re all working for the African continent, there’s a huge media presence in Ghana for a competition that was heavily criticised 10 years ago.

“So there comes a time when we all have to pull together.”