Oshoala clinks 5 as Sadio Mane defeats Salah to annex Caf’s top prize for number 2
Senegalese international, Sadio Mane was crowned African Footballer of the Year for the second time running at a Confederation of African Football (Caf) awards ceremony in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
The Bayern Munich winger netted the winning penalty as Senegal beat Egypt in a shootout in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final to lift the trophy for the first time.
Commenting on his continental prize, Mane told the media “I am very, very happy to receive the trophy this year”.
The race for the best African player award was keenly contested but Sadio Mane won at the expense of compatriot and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as well as former Liverpool team-mate Mo Salah, whose Egypt side lost the February final to the Teranga Lions.
“I thank the Senegalese people – and dedicate this trophy to the youth of my country,” Mane added.
Mane’s prize was one of five picked up by Senegal in a total of seven men’s categories after a night to remember for the West African nation.
Long-standing Senegalese boss Aliou Cisse won Coach of the Year, with his side named Men’s Team of the Year, while Pape Sarr was named Young Player of the Year and another Senegalese, Pape Ousmane Sakho, won the Best Goal for his overhead kick for Tanzanian side Simba.
“We waited a long time for this Nations Cup,” said Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegal Football Federation. “We are a good example to all those teams who have not yet won (the tournament)”.
Sarr, who appeared just once during Senegal’s historic Nations Cup triumph, won an award previously lifted by Salah after his season on loan with French side Metz, edging out Red Bull Salzburg’s Ivorian Karim Konate and Manchester United’s Tunisian Hannibal Mejbri in the process.
Wydad Casablanca, the champions of Africa and Morocco, was the Club of the Year making it the second time in a row, while Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, whose Nations Cup ended early because of injury, was named the Interclub Player of the year.
Inaugural women’s awards
Oshoala became the first player to win five women’s awards, having previously shared number four with compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha.
She got the award ahead of Cameroon’s Inter Milan player Ajara Nchout Njoya and Grace Chanda, whose Zambia side qualified for the Women’s World Cup for the first time earlier this month.
“I don’t know where to start – it’s a record-breaking night for me, as an individual and for Africa as a whole – I’ve got five today, five!” Oshoala exclaimed.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my career. 2021-22 season was really tough for me as an individual, and I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has stood by me.
“If you don’t fall, you don’t know the power of comeback and what comeback means,” said a player who managed her scoring feats despite a lengthy spell out with injury.
Oshoala dedicated her award to Nigeria’s Super Falcons, praising the players for the heart they showed when losing Monday’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) semi-final on penalties despite playing nearly an hour with only nine players.
South Africa coach Desiree Ellis was named Women’s Coach of the Year for the third time in a row, after previous successes in 2018 and 2019.
One of just three women’s coaches at a Wafcon featuring 12 sides for the first time, Ellis – whose side can win the trophy for the first time on Saturday – dedicated her award to her fellow female coaches.
The women’s team of the year will be announced after Saturday’s final when Banyana Banyana will meet hosts Morocco in a final whose attendance is expected to beat the record 45,000 set on Monday night when Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties after an end-to-end 120 minutes of open field action.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Evelyn Badu – who was with Hasaacas Ladies before moving to Norway – took both the Young Player and first Women’s Interclub Player of the Year award.
