Senegal and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane was awarded the African best player 2019 at an event in the Egyptian city of Hurghada on January 7. He became the final awardee for the decade 2010 – 2019.

He succeeds Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah who was also shortlisted along with Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez who led Algeria to AFCON glory in 2019. Both contenders were absent at the ceremony.

Mane received the award from the president of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, Ahmad Ahmad. On stage was the first award winner for the decade, Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon won his fourth award in 2010 when he was with Italian side Inter Milan.

This was the fourth straight time that he had been shortlisted for the award. He lost in 2016 to Gabons Aubameyang (at the time with Dortmund). Then missed out to Salah twice in 2017 and 2018. Many analysts projected after the AFCON that this was his year despite the final loss.

Who won what on the night:

African Player of the Year: Sadio Mane, Senegal / Liverpool
Best Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria / Barcelona FC
African club president of the Year: Moise Katumbi, CEO of TP Mazembe
Federation of the Year: Egyptian Football Association
Djamel Belmadi: Men’s African Coach of the Year
Diseree Ellis: Women’s African Coach of the Year
Special Award: Ex-Togolese intl Kodjovi Obilale, victim of 2010 Cabinda massacre
Goal of the Year: Riyad Mahrez strike against Nigeria in AFCON semis
Men’s Team – Algeria
Women’s Team of the Year – Cameroon
Youth Player of the year – Achraf Hakimi MAR
Interclub player of the year – Youcef Beilali ALG

Source: Africa News