Adebayor Eyes Top Africa Prize

The award ceremony to crown Africa's best performer of 2008 will be held in early December in Cotonou, Benin.

On the short-list are four Premier based footballers and only Africa-based performers.

Mohamed Aboutrika of Al Ahly is the sole representative from a country on the continent, while his compatriot Amr Zaki heads the England based contingent.

The Wigan forward joins Didier Drogba of Cote D'Ivoire and Chelsea team-mate Michael Essien of Ghana on the list, but the fifth nominee believes that he should claim the top gong.

Emmanuel Adebayor has scored 39 goal for Arsenal since the start of the 2007-08 season, and has become one of the hottest commodities on the European stage.

The Togo international marked his return to the national side in October with a comprehensive quadruple in his team's 6-0 win over Swaziland.

Adebayor had been at odds with the country's FA due to player payment issues, but has now set his sights on the continent's biggest individual prize.

The spat with Les Eperviers' hierarchy seems to have been resolved for now, with the player admitting: "It is fine now. Everything is going better. We had a lot of problems. But I think there is an understanding now."

The 24-year-old has been nominated for the award before, but lost out in 2006 as Drogba took home the trophy. He adds that he would be truly honoured to take the mantle from Mali's Frederic Kanouté this time around.

He told Sky Sports: "I would be very happy (to win it). I think, to be honest, I deserve to be on that shortlist.

"I have come so far. I have never dreamed of playing for Arsenal or being on the shortlist. To win it would make me very happy.

"I think I have done everything to deserve it. I have a chance win it."

Peter Staunton