Sadio Mane named African Player of the Year ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea stars

Sadio Mane has been crowned the 2022 African Footballer of the Year ahead of former Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The Senegal forward was named the continent’s player of the year at the Confederation of African Football Awards ceremony in Rabat on Thursday night. It is the second time Mane has won the award.

Only four other players have won the award in consecutive years, with Mane joining Salah, El Hadji Diouf, Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure to claim back-to-back gongs.

Bayern Munich summer signing Mane is now closing in on Eto’o and Toure, who both won the prize a record four times.

Mane said: ‘I’m really honoured to be here for the fifth time and I’m delighted to receive this honour tonight.

‘I have to thank my colleagues at club level and the national team. I’m very emotional, I don’t have the words to express myself.’

Mane played a starring role in Senegal’s maiden Africa Cup of Nations triumph earlier in the year, scoring the decisive penalty which saw his side lift the trophy against Egypt.

The 30-year-old was named Player of the Tournament after Senegal’s emotional win and subsequently helped his country qualify for the World Cup.

In the domestic game, Mane enjoyed another superb season for Liverpool, scoring 23 goals as Jurgen Klopp’s side won the FA Cup and League Cup, reached the Champions League final and finished one point behind Premier League champions Manchester City.

While Mane enjoyed a brilliant year for club and country, so did Liverpool forward Salah and Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy, who were also in contention for the prestigious Caf award.

Salah scored 27 goals and made 14 assists in all competitions and led Egypt to the AFCON final and to the verge of World Cup