The 26 year-old Kanoute was born in France and is a former French youth international.
"The Caf executive committee announced the winner, Frederic Kanoute, after the vote was counted, " he said.
Kanoute, whose parents come originally from Mali, has yet to play for the west African nation.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Tottenham appeal over Kanoute
Jesus Navas played in Kanoute, and when Schwarzer parried his shot, Maresca swept home a simple finish.
Mendes said he knew Sevilla "very well" and will come up against former Spurs team-mate Freddie Kanoute.
That is why new Mali coach Henri Stambouli made convincing Kanoute to play for Mali a priority.
Both Frederic Kanoute and Mohammed Sissoko claim that the current squad of Mali will shock pundits in Ghana.
Sevilla are challenging for the title in La Liga, and have former Spurs striker Fredi Kanoute in their ranks.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Europe | Tottenham face tough Sevilla test
Caf spokesman Suleiman Habuba had previously told BBC Sport that there was nothing sinister in Kanoute winning the accolade.
Just prior to Kanoute's goal Wenger was ordered to leave the technical area for remonstrating with the fourth official.
Drogba refused to travel to Togo for the ceremony on 1 February, and the award was given to Frederic Kanoute.
Although Kanoute has played for the French Under-21 team, he wants to line up for the Eagles at Tunisia 2004.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Tottenham appeal over Kanoute
The Spain-based duo of Mali striker Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla) and Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) have also made the cut.
Sevilla star Frederic Kanoute scored in the 89th minute after Sudan defender Saeed Mustapha Balla was sent off in the 41st.
Darren Anderton and Gus Poyet struggled to win possession for Spurs, leaving front pair Freddie Kanoute and Robbie Keane horribly isolated.
Frenchman Kanoute was on hand to slot home the rebound and claim victory for Spurs, when defeat had earlier looked inevitable.
Kanoute, one of the finalists for the 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year award, is optimistic of the Eagles' chances.
Both sides made half-time changes, with Massimo Maccarone coming on for James Morrison and former Spurs striker Kanoute coming on for Javier Saviola.
But with three minutes left Braamhaar pointed to the spot when Kanoute went down under the combined challenges of Toure and Bakari Sagna.
Kanoute, who had missed numerous chances in the preceding 87 minutes, showed an altogether more deadly nature as he tucked away the penalty.
"We are outsiders but that is how we like it, " Kanoute told BBC Sport from Mali's camping base in the United Arab Emirates.
Drogba said that he did not wish to be considered for future African Player of the Year awards after Kanoute won the 2007 title.
Kanoute is struggling to recover from a ligament strain in his right knee acquired in Mali's 0-0 draw with Benin in Porto Novo on 3 June.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Diarra puts Mali above Madrid
Barcelona's Seydou Keita with a double, a brilliant Frederic Kanoute header and finally, deep into injury time, the equalizer from substitute Mustapha Yatabare completed the great escape.
The 30-year-old Nigeria captain's four goals pulled him level in the scoring charts with Mali's Freddie Kanoute, Cameroon's Patrick Mboma, Santos of Tunisia and Morocco's Youssef Mokhtari.
Kanoute's Sevilla, who are in third place, can still win the title too if they beat Villareal and both Barcelona and Real Madrid lose their games this weekend.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Diarra, Kanoute leave for Spain
Kanoute, the villain for Spurs when he conceded the penalty in extra-time, had his kick saved by Dudek and Robinson then pulled off a save to deny Darren Potter.
BBC: SPORT | Football | League Cup | Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool
He will possibly team up in Bamako with Sevilla's Fredi Kanoute, whose team are also still in the Spanish title race despite being two points behind the leading pair.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Diarra puts Mali above Madrid
And as Middlesbrough wilted, Maresca shot low past Schwarzer from 20 yards - before Kanoute added a fourth two minutes later as Sevilla threatened to end McClaren's reign in embarrassment.
Mali striker Fredi Kanoute opened the scoring in the eight minute after his initial header was blocked, and 13th-placed Gijon lost Mate Bilic to a second yellow card on 32.
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