Adebayor Wins BBC African Player Award Togo and Arsenal FC striker Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor this week emerged as the winner of the 2007 BBC African Fo

The imposing Nigerian-born striker has been an inspiration for his English employers this season, netting in 13 goals in the Premiership to emerge as Arsenal's top striker so far this season, and the second-best overall in the league.

As such, Adebayor won a public vote to scoop the BBC award. Coming in a distant second was Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, while his Ghanaian club-mate Michael Essien came in third.

Sevilla striker Frederic Omar Kanoute placed fourth in the poll, just ahead of Barcelona ace Samuel Eto’o Fils, who finished fifth.

The Togolese striker was not short-listed for the 2007 CAF African Footballer of Year award, and would take this award as a consolation, considering that his National team would not be featuring at this year’s African Cup of Nations.

Togo, who represented Africa at the 2006 World Cup, were knocked out by Frederic Kanoute’s Mali during qualifying.