Ghana's Michael Essien and Adjoa Bayor both in contention for CAF awards will know their fate next month when the winners for various categories are named.

The 2005 African Footballer of the Year will now be named on 16 February at a ceremony in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the new date after the original 9 January date was postponed for what it called technical reasons.

The three candidates for the award are Ghana’s Michael Essien, Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.

Eto'o picked up the award in 2003 and 2004.

Also in the reckoning for an award is Black Queens striker, Adjoa Bayor, who is gunning for the Female Player of the Year.

As well as naming the Footballer of the Year, CAF also hands out a further 10 awards in various categories.