Senegalese international and Liverpool striker, Sadio Mane has been named CAF Best African Footballer of 2019. The announcement was made at the the 28th edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Cairo, Egypt on January 7, 2020. The annual event celebrates and award African footballers and officials who distinguished themselves
“To be honest, I would love to play football more than to be in front of many important people to speak because football is my job, I love it, but speeches are not, by the way!” began Mane’s acceptance speech.
“Good evening everybody. Well, I am really happy and at the same time I am really proud to win this award. I would like to thank my family, especially my uncle who is here and my coach, Aliou Cisse. My national teammates and the staff at the federation, Liverpool Football Club and my teammates, the staff and everybody.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced in December 2019 the final list of candidates for the African Player of the Year award, which included Salah, who came in second place, and Algeria Riyad Mahrez, who came in third.
Salah who won the African Player of the Year award in 2017 and again in 2018 has congratulated Mane on his win. He published a picture of Mane while holding the prize on a story on his official Instagram account with the caption “Congratulations brother.”
CAF has twitted 2019 ranking
Here is a list of others who won what on the night:
12. African Player of the Year: Sadio Mane, Senegal / Liverpool
11. Best Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria / Barcelona FC
10. African club president of the Year: Moise Katumbi, CEO of TP Mazembe
9. Federation of the Year: Egyptian Football Association
8. Djamel Belmadi: Men’s African Coach of the Year
7. Diseree Ellis: Women’s African Coach of the Year
6. Special Award: Ex-Togolese intl Kodjovi Obilale, victim of 2010 Cabinda massacre
5. Goal of the Year: Riyad Mahrez strike against Nigeria in AFCON semis
4. Men’s Team – Algeria
3. Women’s Team of the Year – Cameroon
2. Youth Player of the year – Achraf Hakimi MAR
1. Interclub player of the year – Youcef Beilali ALG
“I am very happy and so proud to win the award this year,” Mane said upon receiving the accolade. “It is a great day for me and for my career. I would like to thank all of the Senegalese who supported me during my journey. I am feeling happy because they will be glad watching me winning this award, especially the people in my village whom I promised I would win Player of the Year. I would like to thank them in French to best express my feelings” he added
