Chelsea's Cote d'Ivoire striker, Drogba, allegation about the African Footballer Award is worrisome. Drogba opted not to travel to Togo and Mali's Kanoute, who did go, was declared the winner on Friday.

Drogba said afterwards that a Confederation of African Football official had warned him that the award would be given to Sevilla striker Kanoute if he did not go to Lome.

"Without being disrespectful, I don't think that the attitude of those people honours Africa. If I didn't go to Lome, it was because it was two days before a quarter-final and we have only one goal, to win the Cup," he said.

Kanoute told the Sevilla Web site (www.sevillafc.es) that he too had been told he must attend to receive the award.

"It is a complicated story and I don't have to justify myself," said the Malian striker.

"But the truth is they told me the same and maybe if we had still been in the cup I wouldn't have been able to attend the event.

"They told me that I also deserved the award for everything I had achieved with Sevilla," added the player.

Drogba said he would have sent his wife to the ceremony "but, unfortunately, she was not welcome.

"I have therefore decided not to be part of the vote for the next African Footballer of the Year award. I feel that the contest has lost its worth. I regarded it very highly," added the striker.

For details: see [url=http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/sports/article20//indexn3_html?pdate=070208&ptitle=CAF%20denies%20Drogba's%20allegation&cpdate=070208] this [/url]

is not a new thing, it has jst xtented to him.sorri bro drogba