Title holder El Hadji Diouf of Senegal was among the three African Footballer of the Year finalists named.

The others are Senegal midfielder Pape Diop and Egypt striker Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam and the winner will be announced at a ceremony on March 31 in the South African commercial capital Johannesburg.

Diouf hopes to emulate former Ghana superstar Abedi 'Pele' Ayew and become only the second player to be the sole winner twice in succession. Pele even went on to win the continent's most prestigious individual football award for a third straight time in 1993.

Liberia's George Weah also won the trophy twice in succession in 1994 and 1995 but on the first occasion he shared the honour with Nigeria's Emmanuel Amunike.

Liverpool's Diouf faces stiff competition from Diop, scorer of the goal that gave Senegal a sensational 2002 World Cup triumph over France, and rising star Hossam.

Diouf is the only Senegalese footballer to win the award while Egypt have also been successful once before with legendary striker Mahmoud al-Khatib topping the 1983 poll.

The World Cup giantkilling run of Senegal, beaten during extra time by Turkey in the quarter-finals, was reflected in the voting with their five nominations making the top 10.

Khalilou Fadiga was placed fourth, Henri Camara sixth and Salif Diao ninth in a list released by the Confederation of African Football, organisers of the award with its technical and media committee members voting.

Each of the 30 members awarded his first choice five points, his second four, his third three, his fourth two and fifth one.

African champions Cameroon had three players nominated, but only midfielder Lauren Mayer from English Premiership leaders Arsenal made the top 10 with Samuel Eto'o and Geremi Njitap falling by the wayside.

Southern Africa players rarely feature with only Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia winning the award and the omission of France-based Zimbabwe striker Benjamin 'Benjani' Mwaruwari from the top 10 was surprising.

Young and physically imposing, Mwaruwari has consistently impressed for Auxerre at domestic and European Champions League levels and some African football observers believed he was good enough to make the top three.

Another striker who must be disappointed not to have done better is Paul Kpaka of Sierra Leone. Based in Belgium with Germinal Beerschot, he is considered a potential superstar.