Essien out, Ade leads Africa

Adebayor is leading for Africa Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor heads the list of three African players who have been nominated for the Fifa World Player for the Year award as Ghana's Michael Essien has been left out.

The 23-man shortlist revealed by world's football governing body also includes Ivorian striker Didier Drogba and Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o.

Essien, who had over the past three years been included in the shortlist, was excluded from this year's nominees.

Fifa will reveal the top three at the start of December before the overall winner is announced on January 12 next year.

Even though Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to win the award Arsenal striker Adebayor, Ghana-raised, is Africa's best hope for the trophy.

While the Togolese has been in impressive form, Drogba and Eto'o were blighted by injuries for the most part of the season while the Cameroonian is only just recovering.

Adebayor scored 30 goals for his club last season and has so far found the net nine times in 15 matches for Arsenal this season.

He almost single-handedly catapulted Togo to the second phase of the World Cup qualifiers earlier this month by scoring four goals in their 6-0 thrashing of Swaziland that secured the Hawks progress.

His achievements have put him in pole position for the African Player of the Year Award ahead of the players vying for the continental gong.

Last year's winner of the Fifa Player of Year award, Kaka, is also on the shortlist, as are Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished second and third respectively in 2007.

Liberia's George Weah became the first and only African player to win the award when he claimed the title in 1995.

Source: Football365.co.za