Senegal\u2019s Sadio Mane was crowned African Footballer of the Year for the second time running at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) awards ceremony in the Moroccan capital Rabat.<\/p>\n
Mane scored the winning penalty as Senegal beat Egypt in a shootout in this year\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations final to lift the trophy for the first time.<\/p>\n
The awards returned for the first time in three years after being suspended by the coronavirus pandemic, with Nigeria\u2019s Asisat Oshoala also retaining the title she won in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very, very happy to receive the trophy this year,\u201d Mane, 30, said as he collected his prize.<\/p>\n
Mane beat compatriot and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as well as former Liverpool team-mate Salah, whose Egypt side lost February\u2019s final.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thank the Senegalese people, and dedicate this trophy to the youth of my country,\u201d added Mane, who also helped Senegal reach the World Cup and won two domestic cups with Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Mane\u2019s prize was one of five picked up by Senegal in a total of seven men\u2019s categories after a night to remember for the West African nation.<\/p>\n
Long-standing Senegalese boss Aliou Cisse won coach of the year, with his side named men\u2019s team of the year, while Pape Sarr was named young player of the year, and another Senegalese, Pape Ousmane Sakho, won the best goal for his overhead kick for Tanzanian side Simba.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe waited a long time for this Nations Cup,\u201d said Augustin Senghor, the president of Senegal\u2019s football federation. \u201cWe are a good example to all those teams who have not yet won (the tournament).\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarr, who appeared just once during Senegal\u2019s historic Nations Cup triumph, won an award previously lifted by Salah himself after his season on loan with French side Metz, so edging out Red Bull Salzburg\u2019s Ivorian Karim Konate and Manchester United\u2019s Tunisian Hannibal Mejbri.<\/p>\n
A host of African football legends such as Daniel Amokachi, Lucas Radebe, Jay-Jay Okocha, Geremi Njitap, and Senegalese duo El Hadji Diouf and Khalilou Fadiga \u2013 who celebrated on stage with Mane \u2013 were in attendance for the awards at the Mohamed VI complex.<\/p>\n
African and Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca took the club of the year prize for the second time in a row, while Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, whose Nations Cup ended early because of injury, was named the interclub player of the year.<\/p>\n
History for Oshoala
\nAfter a stellar season in which she won Spain\u2019s Pichichi award for the top scorer, Oshoala became the first player to win five women\u2019s awards, having previously shared eight with compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha.<\/p>\n
She has voted ahead of Cameroon\u2019s Inter Milan player Ajara Nchout Njoya and Grace Chanda, whose Zambia side qualified for the Women\u2019s World Cup for the first time earlier this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a record-breaking night for me, as an individual and for Africa as a whole \u2013 I\u2019ve got five today, five!\u201d Oshoala exclaimed.<\/p>\n
\u201c2021-22 season was really tough for me as an individual, and I\u2019d like to thank everyone who has stood by me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t fall, you don\u2019t know the power of comeback and what comeback means,\u201d said a player who managed her scoring feats despite a lengthy spell out with injury.<\/p>\n
Oshoala dedicated her award to Nigeria\u2019s Super Falcons, praising the team for the heart they showed when losing Monday\u2019s Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) semi-final on penalties despite playing nearly an hour two women down.<\/p>\n
South Africa coach Desiree Ellis was named women\u2019s coach of the year for the third time in a row, after previous successes in 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n
One of just three women\u2019s coaches at a Wafcon featuring 12 sides for the first time, Ellis \u2013 whose side can win the trophy for the first time on Saturday \u2013 dedicated her honor to her fellow female coaches.<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s team of the year will be announced after Saturday\u2019s final, when Banyana Banyana meets hosts Morocco in a final whose attendance is expected to beat the record 45,000 set on Monday night.<\/p>\n
The last twelve months have proved historic for women\u2019s football in Africa, after the inaugural African Champions League took place in late 2021 \u2013 with winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa named club of the year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ghana\u2019s Evelyn Badu, who was with Hasaacas Ladies before moving to Norway, took both the young player and first interclub player award.<\/p>\n
2022 Caf awards winners:<\/p>\n
Player of the Year (men): Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)<\/p>\n
Player of the Year (women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)<\/p>\n
Coach of the Year (men): Aliou Cisse (Senegal)<\/p>\n
Coach of the Year (women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)<\/p>\n
National Team of the Year (men): Senegal.<\/p>\n
Young Player of the Year (women): Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies\/Alvaldsnes)<\/p>\n
Young Player of the Year (men): Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal & Tottenham Hotspur)<\/p>\n
Club of the Year (women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).<\/p>\n
Club of the Year (men): Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco).<\/p>\n
Interclub Player of the Year (women): Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies\/Alvaldsnes)<\/p>\n
Interclub Player of the Year (men): Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt & Al Ahly).<\/p>\n
Goal of the Year: Pape Ousmane Sakho (Senegal & Simba).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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