...will salute three African soccer legends
Two legendary African players and former winners, Ghana's Abedi Pele and Liberia's George Weah, were surprisingly left out, as CAF, for the first time in the history of the Caf soccer awards, gives recognition to three African legends for their huge talents which otherwise might well have been forgotten.

"It gives me a great pleasure to know that, three years after my retirement, people haven't forgotten the role I played in developing African football," said Zambia's Kalusha Bwalya, who will share the award with Mali's Salif Keita and Cameroon's Roger Milla.

"It's also a great honour for me to have this award alongside African icons such as Milla and Keita. They were leaders in African football."

The sponsors of the Caf awards, MTN, revealed on Friday that this year's ceremony will be held in Younde, Cameroon, on April 30.

Keita, whom many might mistake for his countryman and famous musician who has the same name, was the first recipient of the African Footballer of the Year award in 1970, while playing for France's AS Saint.

Bwalya and Milla won the same award in 1988 and 1990 respectively.

Two other legendary African players and former winners, Ghana's Abedi Pele and Liberia's George Weah, were surprisingly left out by Caf.

Pele was crowned three times in a row between 1991 and 1993, while the same honour was bestowed upon Weah in 1989, 1994 and 1996.

Liverpool's Senegalese striker, El Hadji Diouf, won the 2001 and 2002 award, but a new man will walk away with the prestigious honour in Younde.

The battle will be between Nigeria's Austin (Jay-Jay) Okocha, Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o Fils of Cameroon.

South Africa's Mbulelo Mabizela and his late former Orlando Pirates teammate, Lesley Manyathela, are among the finalists in the Goal of the Year category, while Steven Pienaar will challenge for the Youth Player of the Year award with Abib Kolo Toure of Ivory Coast and Obafemi Martins of Nigeria.

Caf are continuing to ignore African women's football. The organisation argued that the women's game has yet to set world football stage alight.