CAF Awards 2019 winners: Mane is Africa’s best player

Morocco’s Hakimi beats Chukwueze, Oshimen to emerge Youth Player of the Year


Senegalese forward Sadio Mane has dethroned Mohammed Salah and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez as the 2019 CAF African Player of the Year which was staged in Hurghada, Egypt on Tuesday evening.


Mane has been a finalist in the previous three editions of the CAF Player of the Year, but in all those instances, he never went back home with the coveted piece of silverware.


Mane was Senegal’s main man at the 2019 AFCON where he netted three goals on the Teranga Lions’ path to the final where they lost by a solitary goal to Algeria. He netted a brace in the 3-0 group phase victory over Kenya and added one more in the round of 16 1-0 win over Uganda.


In other awards last night, Super Eagles’ aces Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen lost the CAF Young Player of the Year award to Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
Hakimi was announced as the winner at the awards ceremony holding in Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Egypt Tuesday


The 21-year-old has been in scintillating form for the Borussia Dortmund since teaming up with the side and last season he played a significant role as BVB finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga.
Hakimi has notched six goals and contributed six assists across all competitions this term. The versatile player has also been impressive in his defensive duties for Lucien Favre’s men.
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The on-loan Real Madrid man was part of the Atlas Lions’ squad at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt that reached the Round of 16 of the tournament.
Hakimi has now won the award twice after clinching it in 2018, while Osimhen claimed the prize in 2015 with Chukwueze yet to taste the individual accolade
In another award, Nigeria’s Super Falcons also lost the Women’s Team of the Year to Cameroon.
CAF tweeted, “OFFICIAL! There is no better side on the African continent other than Cameroon!
They are crowned Women’s National Team of the Year at the #CAFAwards2019.”
Nigeria’s Super Falcons lost the award despite retaining their continental crown in Ghana in December 2018 and reached the knockout stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France last year summer.
Former Super Falcon’s coach Thomas Dennerby was also on the losing side Tuesday as he lost the Women’s Coach of the year to South African Desiree Ellis she also beats Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon) to the Awards
The Winners:
African Interclubs Player of the Year: Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)
African Youth Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund) African Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon
African Coach of the Year: Belmadi (Algeria)
Africa Women’s Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

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