SADIO MANE pipped Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez to be crowned African Footballer of the Year on Tuesday.
The Liverpool forward, 27, bagged a staggering 31 goals in 52 appearances in 2019 and played a key role in the Reds winning the Champions League.
His Senegal side reached the African Cup of Nations final, losing to Mahrez’s Algeria, before he returned to England and continued his impressive form this season.
Mane is runaway leaders Liverpool’s top goalscorer in the Premier League so far this season and also lifted the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup in an impressive calendar year.
He averaged a goal every 142 minutes – better than both Salah and Mahrez – and enjoyed a shot conversion rate of 25.2 per cent, better than double that of his main rivals.
After collecting the gong, awarded by the Confederation of African Football, he said: “I’m really happy and proud to win this. Football is my job, I love it.
“I would like to thank my family, my national team, staff, the federation and Liverpool Football Club. It’s a big day for me.”
It's official!
The African Player of the Year for 2⃣0⃣1⃣9⃣ is #SadioMane
What an achievement for the Senegalese winger!
#CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/BwFBBxFBR1
— #CAFAwards2019 (@CAF_Online) January 7, 2020
Mane finished in the top three in 2016, 2017 and 2018, missing out to Mahrez and then Salah twice.
But this year, the Senegal star, who was desperate to follow in hero El Hadji Diouf’s footsteps after his compatriot won the award in 2002, earned 477 voting points.
His Reds team-mate Salah finished second on 325 and Manchester City’s treble-winning winger and Afcon champion Mahrez came third on 267.
Mane was in Hurghada, Egypt to receive the trophy – but neither Salah or Mahrez were in attendance, the latter because he was scoring against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
Mahrez joked on Twitter: “Congratulations to Sadio for his trophy well deserved and sorry I couldn’t come but I had to start scoring for the 2020 trophy! See you next year inch’Allah.”
Congratulations to Sadio for his trophy well deserved
and sorry I couldn't come but I had to start scoring for the 2020 trophy
see you next year inch'Allah
#CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/AdomL38DoE
— Riyad Mahrez (@Mahrez22) January 7, 2020
The Algerian did pick up one award, though, as his 95th-minute free-kick against Nigeria in the Afcon semi-final was named goal of the year.
Meanwhile, Mane, Salah and Mahrez were all named in the Team of the Year.
Liverpool’s Joel Matip, Serge Aurier of Tottenham and Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – who finished last season on 22 Prem goals alongside Mane and Salah – also made the XI.
