Africans in Sports. African footballers. The personal rivalry between former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, will reignite in Rabat, Morocco this Thursday when the annual African winners are announced at the Caf awards 2022.
Mane was a key figure in the Senegal team that defeated Egypt, who were captained by Salah in the 2021/2022 Africa Cup of Nations final and World Cup play-off.
The Senegalese’s achievements makes him a favourite to win the player of the year award for a second straight time since 2019. The following two editions were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Should Mane win the award, he will become the first Bayern Munich player voted top African footballer. The closest any player form German has come to winning, was when Ghanaian Samuel Kuffour finished second in 1999 and 2001.
READ MORE: AFCON 2021 star Sadio Mane wins player of the tournament at Africa Cup
Mane made the move to Bayern last month on a three year deal after joining Liverpool in 2016 from Southampton, with Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp refering to him as “a complete forward”
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson hailed the predatory instincts of the 30-year-old: “Whenever he is in front of the goal you do not think he will miss.”
Salah lifted the award in 2017 and 2018 and the victory of Mane the following year raised to four the number of winners from Liverpool with another Senegalese, El Hadji Diouf, topping the 2002 vote.
The Egyptian was voted Premier League Player of the Season by both the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Writers’ Association.
Player of the Year (Men) at the Caf awards 2022:
- Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
- Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)
Source: The Guardian