All Hail King, Mahrez! : Algerian Forward Crowned African Footballer Of The Year [How He Won It]
Riyad Mahrez has been crowned African Footballer of the Year for 2016 after sensationally inspiring Leicester City to a memorable Premier League title.
Mahrez, 25, polled a total of 361 votes to pip last year’s winner, Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to the coveted prize.
Aubameyang earned 313 votes to come in second ahead of Senegal and Liverpool forward Saido Mane who ended with 186 votes.
Mahrez becomes the first North African to win the prestigious honour since Moroccan Mustapha Hadji won it in 1998.
His triumph on the Silver Jubilee edition of the Caf Awards held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, completes a stellar year for the Algerian who was named the BBC African Footballer of the Year last December in addition to his English PFA Player of the Year gong.
The former Le Havre playmaker joins Algeria greats Rabah Madjer (1987) and Lakhdar Belloumi (1981) on the prestigious list.
Asisat Oshoala of The Super Falcons and Arsenal is Women’s Player of the Year #GloCAFAwards2016 pic.twitter.com/nUT8ShpIon
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 5, 2017
At the star-studded event hosted by Nollywood legend Richard Mofe-Damijo and Mimi Fawaz, Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala won the Women’s Player of the Year, with youngsters Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho scooping the Young Player of the Year and Promising Talent awards respectively.
African champions Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper Denis Onyango won the Player of the Year (Based in Africa) award with Pitso Mosimane winning the Coach of the Year to complete a sweep for the South Africans.
Big names on the continent’s music scene, including Flavour and Diamond Platnumz, spiced up the event, while the legendary Femi Kuti brought the show to a close with a powerful rendition of smash hit, bang bang bang
