Ivorian duo Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure have been included in the final five-man shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year award, African governing body CAF announced on Friday.

They were joined by Ghana playmaker Andre Ayew, Senegal forward Demba Ba and Cameroon midfielder Alexander Song on the shortlist.

However, Drogba and Toure seem favourites to battle it out for the award, having enjoyed remarkable seasons with Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.

Prolific frontman Drogba steered Chelsea to a stunning European Champions League triumph in May, scoring a late equalizer against Bayern Munich before converting a decisive penalty in the shootout. He joined China’s Shanghai Shenhua in the summer.

Towering midfielder Toure, who won the award last year, played a key role in helping Manchester City win the English Premier League title for the first time in 44 years.

Both players were unlucky not to win the elusive African Nations Cup title after Ivory Coast lost to underdogs Zambia in the final.

Drogba won the African Footballer of the Year award twice in 2006 and 2009.

The 2012 winner will be announced in Ghanaian capital Accra on 20 December.

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