Kuffour is one of three candidates for the award, which will be handed out at the Confederation of African Football (CAF)'s annual awards ceremony on Tuesday.

'I had a great year, winning the UEFA Champions League and the Bundesliga with my club and also scoring the winning goal in the World Club Championship in Tokyo,' Kuffour told reporters ahead of the ceremony. 'I think that I deserve to win it.'

But he faces a strong challenge from French-based striker El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf, whose goals last year propelled Senegal to a first-ever World Cup finals appearance.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o is the other finalist in the vote conducted among the members of CAF's technical and media committees.

The announcement of the African Footballer of the Year will be the highlight of the ceremony, at which a further 13 awards will be handed out.

Kuffour is hoping to become the first Ghanaian footballer since Abedi Pele almost 10 years ago to win the award while no Senegalese has ever won the prize.

Senegal are also a candidate for the team of the year while their French coach Bruno Metsu is one of the three finalists for the Coach of the Year award.

CAF will also hand over awards for the best club, best young player and the best player in last year's African Champions League, which was won by the Egyptian club Al Ahli.