Samuel Eto'o struck a wonderful hat-trick last night and FC Barcelona Blog congratulates the outstanding Barça and Cameroon striker, winner of the "African Player of the Year, 2006" award.


On Thursday night Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o claimed the crown of African football for the third year in succession, something that no African player has accomplished before. Second placed was Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast striker of Chelsea and third Drogba´s teammate at Chelsea Michael Essien of Ghana.


The "African Player of the Year, 2006" ceremony took place at the African International Conference Hall in Abuja, Nigeria. Eto'o was accompanied by FC Barcelona club president Joan Laporta and director of football Txiki Begiristain and flew back with the Club´s officials in a private jet immediately after the ceremony finished to prepare for the important home match against Betis Seville at the Nou Camp next weekend.


The 24-year old Cameroon international and Spain´s Primera Liga leading goal scorer overtook Thomas Nkono, Roger Milla, George Weah, Abedi Pele, Nwanko Kanu and El-Hadji Diouf who all won the award twice in a row. In his acceptance speech, Eto'o dedicated his award to African children:

"My struggle lasted for so long and the more I advanced the harder it became but today I'm lucky to be a legend of African football because for three times in a row I have won this trophy," he told the audience, which included Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Eto'o, who had a superb year for FC Barcelona in 2005 winning the Spanish La Liga Championship continued his goal-scoring streak in the current campaign. 17 out of his total 18 goals in the Primera Liga this season were scored before the new year and his absence from the Barcelona team while playing for Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations 2006 in Egypt didn't allow him to score more goals for Barça in 2006.
Lyn Oslo (Norway) and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel picked up the African Young Player of the Year 2006 award. The outstanding 19-year-old, who is the currently the subject of a court and FIFA battle between Chelsea and Manchester United, starred for his country in last year's World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. It was John Obi Mikel and Lionel Messi who were the outstanding stars of last summers tournament.