Sadio Mane wins CAF African Player of the year

“Sadio Mane has been crowned 2019 CAF African Player of the Year.”

Yes, folks..you have read it right. The Senegalese forward has won the CAF African Player of the Year of 2019 after winning the Champions League with Liverpool and leading Senegal national team to AFCON finals. Last year, the player had lost out the trophy marginally to his fellow Liverpool-mate, Mohammad Salah.

⚡️ S A D I O M A N E ⚡️

CAF African Player of the Year 2019 🏆 #CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/CHf1i6g8a5

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 7, 2020

For the first time, Sadio Mane won the prestigious award of the African continent given for the footballers after he finished up as runner-up twice, in 2016-17 and 2017-18, to the “Egyptian God” Mohammed Salah. Also, Sadio Mane becomes the second Senegal international to win the trophy after El Hadji Diouf to win the prestigious award in 2001 and 2002.

An incredible 2019 for #SadioMane

5️⃣3️⃣ Appearances
3️⃣2️⃣ Goals
Premier League Golden Boot #PFA Team of the Year
Champions League winner
Super Cup winner
Club World Cup winner

And now, African Player of the Year 🏆 pic.twitter.com/8K15y67hvg

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 7, 2020

The 2018-19 season is considered a successful year for the Senegalese as he ended up winning UEFA Champions League with Liverpool and Premier League Golden Boot for scoring the most goal in a season in the previous season.  Compared to the stats of Mohammad Salah where the Egyptian international scored 26 goals and assisted 10 times in 55 appearances. On the other hand, Sadio Mane produced 12 assists and 34 goals in 61 matches for his club and country.

The process of voting was a tedious won and very uncertain kind of nature for a player. Votes from head coaches/technical directors and captains of the senior national teams of CAF’s member nations helped Sadio Mane to be named as the best of the continent’s best footballer of 2019. The Confederation of African Football ceremony was held in the city of Hurghada in Egypt.

Considered as one of the best playmakers for Liverpool, the No.10 of Reds’ was also nominated for the FIFPro Africa Best XI for 2019 alongside Mohammad Salah and Joel Matip.

The third player in the contention was the Algerian and Manchester City winger, Riyad Mahrez. In 48 appearances, the player had 14 goals and 18 assists for the club and country. However, Salah and Mane’s form didn’t help his cause to win the title.