Shortlist unveiled for African player of the year award

The five candidates for the 2009 BBC African Footballer of the Year award have been revealed on the BBC's African sports programme Fast Track.

The nominees are: Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Samuel Eto'o, Tresor Mputu Mabi and Yaya Toure.

You can vote for your choice right up until 4 January and the winner will be announced four days later.

The prestigious award is the only one of its kind to be decided ultimately by the fans.

The BBC canvassed football experts across Africa to compile the shortlist.

BBC Fast Track presenter Farayi Mungazi said: "This award is all about performance over the last twelve months so only two of last year's contenders have made it onto the list, with no place for Adebayor or Aboutrika.

"Once again it's great to see a player based in Africa on the shortlist with TP Mazembe's Tresor Mputu Mabi in with a chance".

Last year's winner was Mohamed Aboutrika of Al Ahly and Egypt after he helped his country to retain the Africa Cup of Nations and then won the African Champions League with his club.

Previous winners of the BBC African Footballer of the Year award:

2008 - Mohamed Aboutrika
2007 - Emmanuel Adebayor
2006 - Michael Essien
2005 - Mohamed Barakat
2004 - Jay-Jay Okocha
2003 - Jay-Jay Okocha
2002 - El Hadji Diouf
2001 - Sammy Kuffour
2000 - Patrick Mboma