Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane awarded African Player of the Year

(Football news) Senegal’s Sadio Mane was crowned African Player of the Year for the second year running at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) awards ceremony in Rabat. Mane won the African Cup of Nations, scoring the winning penalty for Senegal to lift the trophy for the first time in his career. The 30 year old beat his countryman and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as well as former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah for the prestigious award.

As he collected his prize, Mane said “I am very, very happy to receive the trophy this year. "I thank the Senegalese people, and dedicate this trophy to the youth of my country.” Senegal managed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and it was a successful award ceremony for the country as five out of seven awards were given to Senegalese nationals. Senegalese boss Aliou Cisse won coach of the year while his team were named men's team of the year, Pape Sarr was named young player of the year while Senegal’s Pape Ousmane Sakho won the best goal award for his overhead kick while featuring for Tanzanian side Simba.

Augustin Senghor, President of Senegal's football federation said “We waited a long time for this Nations Cup. We are a good example to all those teams who have not yet won (the tournament).” Young player of the year recipient Pape Sarr edged out Red Bull Salzburg's Ivorian Karim Konate and Manchester United's Tunisian Hannibal Mejbri. In other results, African and Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca took the club of the year award for the second year in a row while Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy was named the interclub player of the year.

Here’s the complete list of the 2022 Caf awards winners:

Player of the Year (men): Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)

Player of the Year (women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)

Coach of the Year (men): Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

Coach of the Year (women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

National Team of the Year (men): Senegal.

Young Player of the Year (women): Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Avaldsnes)

Young Player of the Year (men): Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal & Tottenham Hotspur)

Club of the Year (women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).

Club of the Year (men): Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco).

Interclub Player of the Year (women): Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes)

Interclub Player of the Year (men): Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt & Al Ahly).