Senegal international, Saido Mane beat Liverpool teammate Mohammed Salah and Manchester City star, Riyad Mahrez to the 2019 CAF Player of the Year Award.
The former Southampton star, helped Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League and finished the season with 22 premier league goals.
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala won the Women’s Player of the Year for the fourth time ahead of Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga) and Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC).
Meanwhile, Manchester City sensational winger, Riyad Mahrez picked up the 2019 African Goal of the Year Award for his stunning free-kick for Algeria against Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The goal helped the Desert Foxes reach the finals of the tournament and denied the Super Eagles the opportunity to win her fourth AFCON title.
Mahrez’s goal was considered ahead of the rest based on difficulty, execution and Importance but the Algerian wasn’t available to pick up the award from legendary Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger as he was involved in the Carabao Cup semifinals against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Manchester City forward was also listed in the CAF XI where no Nigerian was nominted. He is joined in attack by Liverpool duo Saido Mane and Mohammed Salah. Others in the CAF XI includes Andrey Onana, Serge Aurier, Joel Matip, Koulibaly, Achraf Hakimi, Gana Gueye, Hakim Ziyech, Aubameyang.
Mahrez’s Algeria was also voted the National Team of the Year at the 2019 CAF Awards.
The 2019 CAF Awards was held at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt and hosted by four-time African Footballer of the Year and Barcelona forward Samuel Eto’o.