Senegalese forward Sadio Mane has been awarded as Africa’s Best Player in 2019.
The Liverpool forward beat fellow Liverpool teammate Mohammed Salah and Manchester City Winger Riyadh Mahrez.
Mane is winning the CAF Best Player Award for the first time after been named in the three-man shortlist in the last three editions.
He contributed to Liverpool’s second-place finish in the English Premier League last season with twenty-two goals scored alongside teammate Mohammed Salah and Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who all also scored 22 goals to share the Golden boot.
At the African Cup Of Nations in Egypt last summer, he played six games, scoring three goals in the competition as the Teranga lions sought to win the AFCON.
However, they lost to Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria in the final with a 1-0 scoreline. This season so far, Mane has played 19 games and scored 11 goals and six assists for the reds.
He replaces Mohammed Salah, who has won the last two awards in 2018 and 2017 as the new winner. Riyad Mahrez’s goal in the semi-final of the Afcon against Nigeria was named Africa’s goal of the year.
Meanwhile, Manchester City Forward Riyad Mahrez and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane were both named in the African 11 for the year 2019.
They were joined by Spurs Serge Aurier, Former Everton Midfielder, Idrissa Gueye as well as Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
Joel Matip, Kalidou Koulibaly, Achraf Hakimi, Andre Onana, and Hakim Ziyech were also on the list.
For the women’s player of the year, former Arsenal and Liverpool ladies forward, Asisat Oshoala won her fourth Africa Best Female player award after beating, Ajara Nchout, and Then I Kgatlana to the award.
She, therefore, equals her role model Perpetua Nkwocha who also had four titles to her name. Asisat now with Barcelona ladies won it in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Sadio Mane is priced at 10.00 to finish as topscorer in the Premier League this season, while Mohamed Salah is pegged at 8.50.
Written by: Idowu Daniel Ademiju
