Algerian and Leicester striker Riyad Mahrez on Thursday was named the Confederation of African Football’s player of the year for 2016.
The 25-year-old won the award by beating Borussia Dortmund’s Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who came second and Senegal and Liverpool striker Sadio Mane who came third.
Mahrez was influential in Leicester’s historic Premier League title winning season. He was named the PFA Player of the Year in England.
He said after receiving the award at the ceremony held in Abuja, Nigeria that “It’s a huge honour to receive this award, I want to thank all my teammates, my family, Africa, and Nigeria as well”.
Nigeria and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi also won the young player award.
Below is the list of winners at the CAF Awards.
- African Player of the Year: Riyad Mahrez
- CAF Platinum Award: Muhammadu Buhari
- Football Leader of the Year: Manuel Lopes Nascimento
- African Player of the Year – Based in Africa: Denis Onyango
- Referee of the Year: Bakary Papa Gassama
- Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala
- 2016 Coach of the Year: Pitsoo Mosimane
- 2016 Youth Player of the Year: Alex Iwobi
- 2016 Most Promising Player of the Year: Kelechi Iheanacho
- Club of the Year: Memelodi Sundowns
- Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
- National Team of the Year: Uganda
Source: Africafeeds.com
