Didier Drogba named Cote D’Ivoire player of the year

Jun 14, 2012 6:35:00 PM

The outgoing Chelsea talisman succeeds Gervinho as Les Elephants' best player after helping them to the 2012 Afcon final and the Blues to Champions League glory

Didier Drogba has been named Cote D’Ivoire player of the year, beating Manchester City's Yaya Toure and Levante's Arouna Kone in a poll of local sports journalists and Internet users.

The Chelsea forward collected 110 votes from journalists and 17,863 online, totalling 37.69 per cent of the vote, while African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure finished on 30.16%, with the former Sevilla forward completing the top three with 12.29%.

Drogba claimed the accolade for the second time, after first scooping the honour in 2007.

The Elephants captain contributed to the team's run to the final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

However, he did miss a crucial penalty kick against Zambia in the showpiece.

The 34-year-old, who announced his decision to leave Stamford Bridge in May, scored Chelsea's equaliser and the decisive penalty against Bayern Munich to clinch the Champions League at the Allianz Arena.

Former winners of the Sport Ivoire Award are Kolo Toure (2006), Drogba (2007), Yaya Toure (2008 and 2009) and Gervinho (2010 and 2011).

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