Exclusive: Didier Drogba Out Of Contention For CAF African Footballer Of The Year Award

 Goal.com Arabic understands that Didier Drogba is the first player to be eliminated from contention for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award, which will be presented on Monday night in Cairo.

The Chelsea and Cote d'Ivoire forward was shortlisted alongside Samuel Eto'o of Inter and Cameroon, and Ghana and Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan.

Drogba is the current holder of the award, with Eto'o being last year's runner-up. Now it seems as though Eto'o will go head to head with Gyan to determine the final placing of for 2010.

Eto'o arrived in Cairo early on Sunday, sharing a flight from Abu Dhabi with CAF president Issa Hayatou. The forward had been successfully contesting the Club World Cup with Inter in the UAE city.

Meanwhile Gyan will attend the ceremony in the Egyptian capital fresh from being named the BBC African Footballer of the Year.

Drogba is set to arrive in Cairo on Monday after his original flight was delayed.