Emmanuel Adebayor Adebayor was also eligible to play for Nigeria but chose to represent the country of his birth, Togo. Adebayor helped Togo qualify for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations after scoring 11 goals in the qualifiers, more than any other player in the African qualifiers. On 10 February 2009, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) picked Adebayor as the African Footballer of the Year for 2008 at an awards ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria. Adebayor beat final nominees Mohamed Aboutrika of Egypt and Ghana's Michael Essien in a vote that involved the national team coaches of CAF's 54 member-nations. It
Emmanuel "Mannie" Essien children Michael and Eleanor. He lives in Mbiabong in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Emmanuel "Mannie" Essien Emmanuel Essien (born 26 March 1977) is a Nigerian radio presenter, voice over artist, singer, compere, and former actor. He was the host of the "Good Morning Nigeria" show on Nigerian radio station, 96.9 Cool FM, in Lagos. In March 2015, he was nominated for Hollywood's Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award in USA for best Nigerian On Air Personality. Essien was born in Jos Plateau in Northern Nigeria to retired principal Obong Jo. The last of six children, Mannie grew up in many parts