Kanoute is Africa’s best

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute won the 2007 African Footballer of the Year award on Friday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced.

The Sevilla forward is the first European-born player to win the award after beating off competition from Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba and Michael Essien of Ghana.

Kanoute was nominated for his role in helping Mali qualify for this year’s African Nations Cup finals and triumphs last season with Spanish club Sevilla in the UEFA and King’s Cups.

Kanoute played for his native France as a junior international before switching allegiance in 2004 to Mali, his father’s country. He is the first Malian to win the award since Salif Keita took the inaugural title in 1970.

The honour came three days after Mali were eliminated from the Nations Cup finals in Ghana.

The timing of this year’s ceremony drew criticism with Essien refused permission by Ghana to travel the short distance to neighbouring Togo for the ceremony.

Other awards were given to the Ivory Coast as the African team of the year and Champions League winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia as the Club of the Year. Etoile Sahel striker Armine Chermiti was named the best African club competition player and Zambian Clifford Mulenga Young African Player of the Year.