Mohamed Abou-Treika, one of the most famous Egyptian players who plays for Egypt's best soccer club Al-Ahly, was short-listed on Wednesday for the 2006 African Player of the Year award, local soccer website filgoal.com reported.

The Confederation of African Football, African football's governing body, announced the names of the five nominees in a press conference held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Reigning African Footballer and three-time winner Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon and Barcelona earned yet another nomination.

Premiership champions Chelsea had two nominees in Cote d'Ivoire captain Didier Drogba and Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien.

Portsmouth forward Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria, who won the honor in 1997 and 1999, was also among the nominees.

The 28-year-old Abou-Treika, also a midfielder of Egypt's national squad, has enjoyed a very successful year.

He played a pivotal role in Egypt's record-breaking fifth African Cup of Nations on home ground in February.

Abou-Treika also helped his club, Ahly, retain their local and African Champions League, finishing as top-scorer in both competitions.

He also guided Ahly to the Egyptian Cup title and local and continental Super Cup trophies.

All 53 member-nations of CAF and the CAF media and technical committees are expected to vote for the continent's best player. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Nigerian capital Abuja on January 18.

Ahly, based in Cairo, have just won a second successive African Champions League title after beating CS Sfaxien of Tunisia on November 11.

Ahly, considered by some as the best club in Africa, have before won the African Champions League four times, in 1982, 1987, 2001 and 2005, respectively.