Drogba unhappy at award snub

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Striker Drogba, who won the title in 2006, insists he was in line to retain the award until he made it clear he would not be leaving Ghana - where he is spearheading the Ivory Coast's bid to win the African Nations Cup - to collect the prize in Lome, Togo.

"I was told if I didn't appear the rules would change and the prize would go to the runner-up," he told BBC Sport.

Mali's former West Ham and Tottenham forward Frederic Kanoute was eventually handed the accolade, but Drogba is unhappy about what he claims is a flawed process.

"If I refused to go to Lome it was first for my team-mates, as you don't organise such an event just two days before a quarter-final (Monday's African Nations Cup clash with Guinea).

"This attitude doesn't honour Africa so I've pulled out of future elections.

"We're all working for the African continent, there's a huge media presence in Ghana for a competition that was heavily criticised 10 years ago.

"So there comes a time when we all have to pull together."