Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was named African Footballer of the Year on Tuesday.

The Togo international beat Chelsea's Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien and Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika in a poll of coaches and captains of African national teams by the Confederation of African Football.

It is the first major award for the striker, recognized for his goals in the English Premier League and his role in helping Togo qualify for the last phase of the African qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

Adebayor, who turns 25 later this month, scored 24 goals in the Premier League last season. He got four goals in three games for Togo in their World Cup qualifiers.

Cote d'Ivoire striker Salomon Kalou, who also plays for Premier League Chelsea, was named African young player of the year.

(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 11, 2009)