Flawed Diouf favoured to remain pride of Africa

Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf seems set to remain African Footballer of the Year when the result of the 2002 poll is announced.

The other finalists after a vote among members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) technical and media committees are Senegal midfielder Pape Bouba Diop and Egypt striker Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam.

CAF insiders say the award will go to high-profile Diouf, who finished ahead of Ghana defender Samuel Kuffour last year, or low-profile Diop with Hossam expected to gain some consolation by taking the Young Footballer award.

Diouf and Hossam must be grateful the voting took place in Cairo several months ago as both have tarnished their images ahead of the awards banquet in an exclusive Johannesburg suburb.

After spitting at Celtic fans during a UEFA Cup quarter-final in Scotland this month, the Liverpool striker with the peroxide hair was banned by the European governing body and missed the return match.

He has yet to set the English Premiership alight either and was the victim of a scathing attack by London-based World Soccer magazine under the headline: Africa's finest? Surely not Diouf.

Claiming he was ordinary at the 2002 African Nations Cup, outshone by Diop at the World Cup, and produced indifferent club form with Lens in France and Liverpool, World Soccer said Diouf owed much to his flamboyant personality.

"These days, it seems, he is equated with Senegalese football and is, therefore, being rewarded individually for the collective achievements of his colleagues," the magazine noted.

Hossam may be just 20, but has already attracted more media attention than many footballers do in a lifetime and Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam recently lent him to Celta Vigo of Spain after numerous clashes with officialdom.

Immensely talented on the field, Hossam scored the only goal at the weekend as Egypt collected three precious 2004 African Nations Cup qualifying points with a victory in Mauritius.

Repeated rows with Ajax coach Ronald Koeman and officials left the famous football nursery with no option, however, but to pass their problems on to Celta, whose squad includes controversial South Africa striker Benni McCarthy.

France-based Diop, a ball winner with an eye for the attacking opportunity, is a model professional by comparison although, ironically, these qualities are overshadowed by a low media profile.

After finishing runners-up to Cameroon in a 2002 Nations Cup final settled by penalties and reaching the World Cup quarter-finals before bowing out to a Turkish golden goal, Senegal are expected to dominate the awards.

World Cup coach Bruno Metsu, a Frenchman now based in the United Arab Emirates, is sure to finish first in his category and it seems a foregone conclusion that Senegal collect the Team of the Year award.

The Goalkeeper of the Year prize rests between Tony Sylva of Senegal and Alioum Boukar of Cameroon and Diop and Henri Camara are among five contenders for Goal of the Year.

However, the only member of the Senegalese delegation certain to visit the winners' podium is Mawade Wade, who will be presented with a Merit Achievement Award for distinguished service to African football as a coach and official.