Senegalese forward Sadio Mané has been named the winner of the 2019 CAF African Player of the Year award at a ceremony held in Hurghada, Egypt, on Tuesday night, January 7, 2020. This is Mané’s first time winning the prestigious award after being nominated four times and finishing as runner-up in both 2017 and 2018.
He triumphed over a strong final shortlist that included his Liverpool teammate, two-time winner Mohamed Salah, and Algeria’s AFCON-winning captain, Riyad Mahrez. The votes from coaches, technical directors, and captains of CAF’s member associations saw Mané poll 477 votes, ahead of Salah (325 votes) and Mahrez (267 votes).
Mané’s victory was driven by his stellar performance across the 2018-2019 season for both club and country:
- Club Success: Mané played a crucial role in Liverpool’s successes, aiding them in securing the UEFA Champions League title for the first time since 2005 He also contributed to the team’s victory in the FIFA Club World Cup. In the English Premier League, he shared the Golden Boot award with Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with all three scoring 22 goals. He scored a total of 34 goals and produced 12 assists in 61 appearances across 2019.
- National Team: He was Senegal’s key player and top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), netting three goals as he captained the Teranga Lions to the final, where they ultimately lost 1-0 to Algeria.
Mané’s exceptional year was also recognized globally, as he was ranked among the top five contenders for the Ballon d’Or, which was ultimately won by Lionel Messi.
