Senegal forward Sadio Mane has been named the 2019 African Player of the Year.
The Liverpool attacker defeated his club teammate Mohamed Salah and Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez to win his maiden individual award on the continent.
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Mane enjoyed an outstanding campaign at club and international level last year, helping Senegal to the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where they eventually lost to Algeria.
Last season, the talisman scored 22 goals to share the Premier League Golden Boot with Salah and Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He also played a key role in helping Liverpool win the Uefa Champions League, Super League and the Fifa Club World Cup last year.
WHAT. A. LINEUP! 🔥
— #CAFAwards2019 (@CAF_Online) January 7, 2020
One that would take the World Cup home? #CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/LaUaw66XrR
In Africa's best XI of the year, Mane is joined by Aubameyang and Salah in frontline while Mahrez, Morocco's Hakim Ziyech, Senegal's Idrissa Gueye formed the midfield and Cameroon's Joel Matip, Senegal's Kalidou Koulibaly, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Ivory Coast's Serge Aurier provide cover for goalkeeper Andre Onana in the defence.
Elsewhere, Mahrez's match-winning free-kick against Nigeria at Afcon 2019 semi-final was picked as the Goal of the Year while Afcon champions Algeria won Men's Team of the Year with Cameroon's Indomitable Lioness claiming the women's prize.
3⃣ things that make a goal special
— #CAFAwards2019 (@CAF_Online) January 7, 2020
Difficulty
Execution
Importance#RiyadMahrez's free kick strike in the #TotalAFCON semi-finals was otherworldly 😍#CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/euLrXHx0FY