Eto'o, Drogba and Essien vie for top African honour

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 2 (Reuters) Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Michael Essien have been named as the three finalists for the African Footballer of the Year award for a second successive year.

The Confederation of African Football, having announced five candidates last month, whittled the list down to three after voting by coaches of the organisation's 53 member countries.

Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu and the Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika have failed to make the last three, CAF said in a statement.

Cameroon striker Eto'o, expected to return to action this month after a serious knee injury, will be seeking to win the award for an unprecedented fourth time.

Eto'o narrowly beat Drogba of the Ivory Coast to the 2005 award with Ghana's Essien in third place.

The winner of the 2006 award will be announced at a ceremony in Accra, Ghana on March 1.

REUTERS SAM DS1345