Sadio Mane Retains African Footballer Of The Year Title

Senegal and Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane was named African Footballer of the Year for the second consecutive time in Rabat on Thursday.

The Senegalese icon finished first with his countryman Edouard Mendy and former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah the other finalists.

“I am so excited to win this award. There are so many players that deserved this award, but I have been chosen. I am honoured and I thank everyone for this,” Mane said soon after receiving his trophy in Morocco.

Mane scored 23 goals for Liverpool in all competitions last season before moving to Bayern Munich in Germany this summer.

The 30-year-old  now joins a list of greats, including Abedi Pele, George Weah, Jay-Jay Okocha and Didier Drogba, to have won the African Footballer of the year award.

The other male awards went to Senegal coach Aliou Cisse, Senegal national team,Pape Matar Sarr in the youth category,  Mohamed El Shenawy in the Interclub player of the year, Wydad Casablanca and Pape Ousmane Sakho in the goal of the year.

Barcelona and Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala  was voted Women’s Player of the Year and South Africa coach Desiree Ellis and the Nigeria national team were the other female winners.