Liverpool forward and Egyptian international Mohamed Salah is African Player of the Year. Award tops a phenomenal season for Salah. Fellow Liverpool player Sadio Mane is runner-up.
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Liverpool forward and Egypt international Mohamed Salah has been been named African Player of the Year. The awards ceremony took place on Thursday in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.
Salah's success in 2017 was decribed as phenomenal, having helped inspire his country to a long-awaited World Cup place along with a highly successful start to his premier league career at Liverpool, where, in the first half of the season he scored 17 goals in 21 league games.
"Winning this award is a dream come true," said Salah as he picked up his award. "2017 was an unbelievable year for me. I had a fantastic time, with the national team and the team, it was an unbelievable moment. It was very difficult to explain the moments. Qualifying for the World Cup after 28 years, and to have a great season with the clubs Rome and Liverpool."
Salah's team mate Sadio Mane finished second, while third place went to Gabon striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who also plays in the German Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund.
The award is traditionally voted for by the head coaches or technical directors of all Africa's national teams. This is the first year the organisers have also allowed captains to vote for the continent's best player.