2022 CAF Award: Sadio Mane Wins African Footballer Of The Year

• Asisat Oshoala, Aliou Cisse, Desiree Ellis were among other prize winners

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards returned on Thursday night with  Senegalese international and Bayern Munich’s new signing, Sadio Mane star lighting the event as the African Footballer of the Year for the second time.

Mane was the star attraction as the Continent’s football governing body honoured the cream of African stars in Rabat, Morocco on one of the glitziest nights in Africa’s sporting calendar.

No doubt, with his impressive showing for the Teranga Lions of Senegal at the Nations Cup and Liverpool in the outgone season, the Senegalese won the prize, seeing off fellow nominees, Mohamed Salah of Egypt and compatriot, Edouard Mendy.

Though the Senegal attacker was the favourite for the prestigious award, it was no foregone conclusion, as he faced stern competition from Salah, who picked up a swathe of individual domestic titles for his outstanding performances for Liverpool, who won two domestic cups, pushed Manchester City close in the Premier League, and reached the Champions League final.

Salah won the PWA Players’ Player of the Year; PFA Fans’ Player of the Year; and FWA Footballer of the Year award, and his form between late August and late December, when he had a hand in 28 goals in all competitions, was among the greatest runs ever seen by an African player.

However, even though Salah eclipsed Mane in the Premier League, as Liverpool just fell short, the Senegal man was the favourite to clinch the Player of the Year award. Like Salah, he also won two domestic cups and almost went the distance in the Premier League and the Champions League.

However, unlike his former teammate, he also excelled in both the Africa Cup of Nations, netting the decisive penalty as Senegal won their first ever title, and the World Cup qualifiers, with the Teranga Lions beating the Egyptian Pharaohs on both occasions.

Considering Mane’s international dominance in the dual, and the historic trend for these awards to often be focused on a player’s performances in international tournaments, the Bayern Munich new boy was well placed to clinch the award and duly won the gong for the second time. – With Goal.com reports