Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah on Thursday won the 2017 African Footballer of the Year at a glamour Awards night held at the International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana.
The Liverpool forward who has been having a barnstorming season in England led his national team, Egypt to World Cup qualification in November for the first time since he was born and expectedly wrapped up a very successful night for the Pharaohs in Accra.
Salah, 25, had won the 2017 BBC African Footballer of the Year award in December and once again defeated his club mate Sadio Mane and 2015 winner, Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a poll conducted by coaches and captains of various national teams on the continent.
Salah’s national team manager Hector Cuper was named Coach of the Year while Egypt’s Senior National Team, the Pharaohs won Men’s National Team of the Year award after reaching the 2017 Nations Cup final and sealing their first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
Nigerian star Asisat Oshoala yet again won the Women’s Footballer of the Year gong for the third time in four years after a successful season with her Chinese club Dalian Quanjian. Oshoala defeated South Africa’s Chrestina Kgatlana and Cameroon’s Gabrielle Onguene to this year’s gong. South Africa’s Women National team were named the Women’s National Team of the Year.
The club of the year award was given to CAF Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca while Zambia’s enterprising youngster Patson Daka won the Young Player of the Year award. Nigeria’s Junior Oluwafemi Ajayi was the only Nigerian voted into the 2017 CAF Team of the Year.
Thursday’s event was attended by majority of former winners of the African Footballer of the Year since 1992 including iconic football heroes Samuel Eto’o Fils and Didier Drogba (who co-hosted the event with broadcaster Carol Tshabalala).
Winners on the night
Men’s Player of the Year – Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Women’s Player of the Year – Asisat Oshoala (Egypt)
Coach of the Year – Hector Cuper (Egypt)
Men’s National Team of the Year – Egypt
Women’s National Team of the Year – South Africa
Young Player of the Year – Patson Daka (Zambia)
Club of the Year – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
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