BREAKING: Mane named African Footballer of the Year for second time
Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane has been crowned African Footballer of the Year for the second time.
The Senegal international, 30, received the prestigious honour at an awards ceremony on Thursday. Mane, who joined Bayern earlier this summer, won the award ahead of former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
On. The. Throne.
๐ @Fsfofficielle first ever #TotalEnergiesAFCON title.
โ๏ธ @FIFAWorldCup qualification.
๐ An incredible club football season.An incredible year of football for Sadio Manรฉ! ๐ธ๐ณ#CAFAwards2022 https://t.co/Y1MZ5QxNu7 pic.twitter.com/Ksv9Rsw50W
— #CAFAwards2022 (@CAF_Online) July 21, 2022
Mane scored 23 goals for Liverpool last season to help them win the FA Cup and EFL Cup. The Reds also reached the Champions League final – losing 1-0 to Real Madrid – and finished just a point behind champions Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
At international level, Mane inspired Senegal to glory in the Africa Cup of Nations in February. He scored the winning spot-kick as his nation defeated Salah’s Egypt on penalties in the final. Mane scored three goals during the tournament, one more than Salah.
AFRICAโS FINEST! ๐ซ
๐ธ๐ณ Sadio Mane is the Player of the Year (MEN) for the second time! ๐คฉ
๐๐๐๐! ๐ฆ #CAFAwards2022 pic.twitter.com/3fsLRbw5YX
— #CAFAwards2022 (@CAF_Online) July 21, 2022
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The African Footballer of the Year prize has been awarded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 1992. An alternative version of the gong was previously awarded by France Football – the organisers of the Ballon d’Or – between 1970 and 1994.
Salah previously won the illustrious prize in 2017 and 2018. The award was last handed out in 2019 as Mane claimed the honour. Previous winners include Riyad Mahrez, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and George Weah.