Senegal's Mane named best African footballer of 2019 at CAF Awards

CAIRO - Senegalese Liverpool star Sadio Mane was crowned on Tuesday as African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2019 that held in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Hurghada.

The 28th edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards celebrated African footballers and officials who distinguished themselves during 2019.

Mane became the African Player of the Year, polling 477 votes ahead of his Liverpool teammate Mohamd Salah, 325 votes and Algeria's Riyad Mahrez, 267 votes, according to CAF Online, the official website of the CAF.

For the Women's category, Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala, who plays for Barcelona, was named African Women's Player of the Year for the fourth time, equalling the record of her compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha.

Oshoala garnered 351 votes, 30 more than Cameroonian forward Ajara Nchout and Thembi Kgatlana, who had 247 votes.

For the Interclub of the Year, Youcef Belaili won the prize following his stellar performance in the CAF Champions League with Esperance.

The Youth Player of the Year award went to Moroccan and Borussia Dortmund defender Achraf Hakimi, while Djamel Belmadi and South African Desiree Ellis picked the Coach of the Year male and female respectively.

Tanzanian afro-pop star, Diamond Platinumz thrilled the audience with a live show of his music that saw the guests dancing in their seats.

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o partnered Egyptian Mariam Amin as presenters of the ceremony and was assisted by Moroccan Fayrouz Al Karawani as special guests Egyptian Minister of Sport Ashraf Sobhy, FIFA and CAF Legends were treated to a wonderful evening.