Football

Sadio Mane beat Salah to African Player of the Year

Sadio Mane beat Salah to African Player of the Year

Their ‘fight’ made the stage of the African Player of the Year even more interesting. Although there were three finalists, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were the front runners for the award. The interest to know who among them will win the title of the best player in Africa was high. The name of the winner was announced at a grand ceremony in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Mane beat Salah and national team Senegal teammate Edouard Mendy to the African Player of the Year award.

The Bayern Munich forward won the award for the second time. He won the best title in 2019 as well. The African Awards have not been given for the past two years due to the coronavirus. As such, Mane won the award for the second time in a row.

The Senegalese forward left Liverpool last month. He signed a three-year contract with Bayern Munich for 41 million euros. During his stay at Liverpool, he stormed the opponent’s defense, shoulder to shoulder with Salah. Their chemistry has returned to success at Anfield. Liverpool won the FA Cup and League Cup last season thanks to Mane-Salah’s impressive performances. However, the Champions League and Premier League have to finish as runners-up.

Although they played together in the club, they were rivals in the national team. Salah’s Senegal beat Egypt to win the Africa Cup of Nations. In the final tiebreaker, the victory was confirmed by Mane’s penalty for Senegal. This success for the national team put the Bayern forward in the running for African Player of the Year. In the end, he got the prize.

Bayern had a pre-season friendly in Washington. Mane also scored a brace in the German club’s 6-2 win over DC United. After that match, Mane crossed the Atlantic and arrived in the capital of Morocco to receive the award for the best player of the year. Handing the award, he said, ‘I am honored and happy to receive this award again. Thank you to my coaches, my club and national teammates and all the friends who supported me in bad times.”

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