Our correspondent in Blantyre, the commercial city of Malawi picked the thoughts of Malawians on the outcome of the awards held in Accra, Ghana on Thursday night.

Esnat Somba: “Yes the best man won because he has been in top form for his club scoring crucial goals. He has also been instrumental taking his country to the World Cup in South Africa.”

“I am happy with the outcome, Didier Drogba has shown that he is a great striker and is currently chasing Wayne Rooney. He has been in phenomenal form and he deserves the award,” Benard John.

Luka Sendeza: “Drogba is a great striker, he has bailed out Chelsea in several games and it is because of his goal scoring prowess that the team is currently on top of the English Premier League. Ivory Coast has also made it to the World Cup and has been scoring.”

“Drogba is the best and he deserves the award. He showed that he was an important player for club and country when Ivory Coast played Malawi. He came off the bench and in his second touch he scored a goal. He has been in a class of his own during 2009 and bravo to him,” Mary Saini.

Juliet Chirwa added: “ Much as Drogba has won I thought Essien deserved the award because for Chelsea to rip results he has been instrumental in the midfield before he got injured. Now you can even notice that Chelsea is missing his services. He has helped Ghana in terms of quality for the World Cup after so many years and has been the leader. Ghana failed to cope at the World Cup though they reached the finals because he was not around. As for Didier he failed to help his team at AFCON so I am not happy with the award.”