Ghana's Michael Essien has been named among the five nominees for this year's African Footballer of the Year award organised by CAF.

The Black Stars midfielder's club teammate, Didier Drogba, who won the award the last time is also on the list again.

Mali's Mamadou Diarra together with international team-mate Freddie Kanoute and Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor complete the list announced by the Confederation of African Football.

CAF spokesman, Habuba Suleiman, says the five nominees were chosen by the media and technical committee of the continental sport body.

Habuba further explains that the list will be pruned to three after a vote of the coaches of Africa's 53 national teams.

Drogba beat Michael Essien to the award which saw Cameroon's Eto Fils place third.

The awards ceremony will be held in Lome, Togo, on 1 February 2008.