Sadio Mane has beaten previous two-times Champions Salah to the 2019 African Player Of The Year award.
The CAF awards were held in Hurghada, Egypt on Tuesday. Sadio Mane has won the 2019 African Player Of The Year. He has edged Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah – winner in 2017 and 2018 – and Algeria attacker Riyad Mahrez – winner in 2016 – to the prestigious award.
The winner was chosen by votes from head coaches/technical directors and captains of the senior national teams from CAF’s member associations.
Mane is only the second Senegalese to win the award after El Hadji Diouf, who was the winner in 2001 and after joining Liverpool in 2002.
It is the second successive year that the top three are all from English clubs and only the third time since the award was introduced that the leading trio all play in the same league. In 1991, the top three all came from French clubs.
Mane said after receiving the award from the four-time winner Samuel Eto’o: “To be honest I would prefer to be playing football than speaking in front of so many people. I’m really happy and really proud at the same time. I would like to thank my family, especially my uncle who is here today. It is a big day for me and I would love to thank all the Senegalese people who have been voting for me. I’m from a very small village called Bambali and I’m sure they are all watching me tonight.”
Mane was given tough competition by Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez.
The Egyptian won the award in 2017 and 2018. He was third in 2016. He was also instrumental in Liverpool’s recent successes. While Mahrez captained Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations success in July and won the Premier League with Manchester City. He was African Footballer of the Year in 2016.
But Mane deservedly won the award this year. It was a successful calendar year for the 27-year-old as he ended the 2018-19 season by winning the Champions League and Premier League Golden Boot award.
Mane also guided Senegal to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in the summer before returning to claim more honours with Jurgen Klopp’s side. After scoring twice in the UEFA Super Cup triumph over Chelsea, Mane then delivered the assist for Roberto Firmino’s goal that won Liverpool the FIFA Club World Cup for the very first time.
Asisat Oshoala won the 2019 African Women’s Player Of The Year. She plays for Barcelona’s women team and was delighted to be recognised. She wrote on Twitter: “Grateful to be African Women’s Player of the year for the 4th time. Thank God, my Family, Friends and Fans for the support. Big shoutout to my club, my management, teammates at both national team and club level and of course thanks to @CAF_Online for the opportunity.”
Real Madrid full-back Achraf Hakimi, who is currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund has been named as the 2019 African Youth Player Of The Year for the second successive time.
CAF Awards 2019 winners:
African Interclubs Player of the Year: Youcef Belaili (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)
African Youth Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)
African Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon
African Men’s National Team of the Year: Algeria
Best African Goal of the Year: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
FIFPro Africa’s Best 11: Andre Onana; Serge Aurier, Joel Matip, Kalidou Koulibaly, Achraf Hakimi; Idrissa Gana Gueye, Riyad Mahrez, Hakim Ziyech; Mohamed Salah, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane
African Women’s Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
African Men’s Coach of the Year: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
Club President of the Year: Moise Katumbi (TP Mazembe)
African Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)
African Player of the Year: Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
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