Ballon d’or 2011-Eto’o only African nominee

Cameroonian forward Samuel Eto’o has emerged as the only African to make the cut for 23 man Ballon d’or nominee list for 2011. The list was made public yesterday by the FIFA and French magazine France Football. While this is not the first time the striker is being nominated, players of African descent such as Karim Benzema and Eric Abidal are also present on the list.The 2o11 list includes old names such as Messi, Xavi as well as newcomers such as Neymar and Ozil. Come December 5, FIFA and France Football will announce the three players shortlisted for the award that will be handed out on January 8 2012 in Zurich.Some pundits opine that if last season performances and trophies are anything to go by, then it is going to be contest between Argentinian wonder-kid Messi and Portuguese sensation Christiano Leonardo.