Ahead of the GLO-CAF Awards ceremony which is holding tonight in Lagos, Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi, has expressed his hope to be crowned African Footballer of the Year.

The Chelsea midfielder is vying for the prestigious award with the Ivorian pair of Yaya Toure, of English Premier League rivals Manchester City, and Didier Drogba, from Turkish club Galatasaray.

"It is an honour to be selected and nominated for the award. I am looking forward to winning it for my country," Mikel, who has twice been voted Africa's best young player, told AFP by phone from London.

The 26-year-old helped Nigeria win a third Africa Cup of Nations in February last year and also qualify for a fifth World Cup finals in November.

He also won a first-ever UEFA Europa League title for his club side.

Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigerian that was crowned the best player in Africa as far as 1999.

Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke and Victor Ikpeba have previously won the CAF player of the year.

Mikel said he plans a whistle-stop visit to Lagos, for this evening's awards organized by the continent's highest football authority (CAF) and bankrolled by one of Africa's leading indigenous telecoms operators, GLOBACOM.

"I am coming for the CAF awards. I will be flown in and out of Nigeria by the Chelsea jet. I will arrive on the awards day and return immediately after," Mikel disclosed.

Chelsea, currently third in the English Premier League behind Arsenal and Manchester City, are away to Hull City on Saturday.

During tonight's ceremony, winners in 11 categories, voted for by African coaches and captains of national teams, will be unveiled.
These include the African Footballer of the Year, the African Player of The Year (based in Africa), National Team of the Year, Club of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Other categories are the Most Promising Talent, Referee of the Year, Legend of the Year, Fair Play Award, Platinum Award and Africa’s Finest XI.   of character and skill he displayed each time he played for both club and country.

African leaders, past and present football icons will converge to witness the coronation of Africa's best football assets. GLOBACOM has been sponsoring the annual CAF Awards since 2005.