Riyad Mahrez says his next target is to help Algeria win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations title.
The Leicester City forward dethroned Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be named Africa Player of the Year at Thursday's Glo-Caf gala in Abuja, having played a key role in the Foxes’ remarkable 2015-16 Premier League triumph.
Mahrez scoops top personal prize
While admitting pipping Aubameyang and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane to the award was no mean feat, he is hoping to help the Greens conquer the continent when Africa’s biggest football showpiece kicks off in Gabon.
"I'm very happy to win it,” Mahrez told the media. “Honestly, it was between two big players. It is never easy to win a big award like this.
"I'm very happy and very pleased; [I am not done yet ] as I just have to keep going.
"The next thing after this award is the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. My team will try to do good things there.
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"It is not going to be easy in Africa but it will be good maybe to win the title.
"It is never easy to win - even one game. [All we need to do is keep working], we just have to see if we emerge as winners."
Algeria last won the competition in 1990 when they edged Nigeria 1-0 in the final, thanks to Cherif Oudjani’s first half strike at Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers.