Argonauts linebacker Henoc Muamba named Grey Cup MVP, outstanding Canadian

His hands full of hardware, Toronto Argonauts middle linebacker Henoc Muamba knelt on Mosaic Stadium's stage and cried after winning the first Grey Cup of his football career.

The 33-year-old doubled up on individual honours in the game.

Muamba was chosen as the most valuable player and outstanding Canadian in Toronto's 24-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina on Sunday night.

"Still trying to figure out if this is real life," Muamba said during a post-game press conference flanked by his four-year-old daughter Thea and both trophies.

With the Argonauts leading by just one point, Muamba intercepted Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros late in the fourth quarter to halt a potential game-winning touchdown drive by Winnipeg.

Muamba's crucial pick at 3:20 put the Argos at Winnipeg's 43-yard line.

Argos kicker Boris Bede's field-goal attempt was blocked, but Toronto's Robbie Smith then blocked a Bombers field-goal try with 43 seconds remaining to preserve the Argonauts' first Grey Cup win since 2017.

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Muamba, a U Sports alum and the all-time leader in tackles at St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, N.S., became the second CFL player to claim both awards following running back Andrew Harris in 2019.

Born in Kinshasa, Congo, Muamba grew up in Montreal and Mississauga, Ont. He attended Father Michael Goetz Secondary School in Mississauga. His brothers Cauchy and Kelvin also played in the CFL with Montreal and Saskatchewan, respectively.

Muamba was a Blue Bombers' rookie in 2011 when Winnipeg lost to the B.C. Lions in the Grey Cup. He didn't appear in another Grey Cup until Sunday, when he also had three tackles and a pass knockdown.

"Eleven years of hard work.