African accolade for Leicester lynchpin Mahrez

Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez was on Thursday voted African Player of the Year after he inspired Leicester City to the English Premier League title last season.

Mahrez, 25, beat Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, of Borussia Dortmund, who scooped the accolade last year, into second place, with Liverpool's Senegal star Sadio Mane taking third.

France-born forward Mahrez said it was a "huge honor" to receive the award.