By Matthew Kenyon

Of course, if he had made some different choices, Freddie Kanoute would not even qualify for the BBC's African footballer of the year award.

But since he opted to play for Mali, and not for France - where he was born - he has become a key member of the national side.

And in 2007, he proved that in style.

In their final game of qualifying for the 2008 Nations Cup, Mali needed to avoid defeat against Togo to go through.

The game was played in Lome, in front of a hostile crowd.

But Kanoute kept his cool to lead the Eagles to victory, scoring the opener in a two-nil win.

Frederic Kanoute is a valuable man to have on your team Matthew Kenyon

Mali are on their way to Ghana, and they will be looking to Freddie Kanoute for goals.

Which is just what his team mates at the Spanish club Seville do, as well.

It has been a wonderful couple of years for the Andalucians, and Kanoute has more than played his part in that success.

They have won the UEFA Cup twice in a row - and Kanoute scored in both finals.

In the Spanish Super Cup in August, Sevilla met the giants of Spanish football, Real Madrid.

Kanoute slammed home a hat-trick at the Bernebeu, as his side scored five times to claim a 6-3 aggregate win.

And despite being injured in the opening months of the 2007-08 season, he had still managed a tally of seven goals from eight games in the Primera Division.

He will be a big loss to Sevilla when he travels to Ghana, but his country will expect to profit from the Spaniards' loss.

Frederic Kanoute is a valuable man to have on your team.