MAHREZ African Footballer of the Year
ABUJA: Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez was on Thursday voted African Footballer of the Year after he inspired Leicester City to the English Premier League title last season.
Mahrez, 25, beat Gabon skipper PierreEmerick Aubameyang, who scooped the prestigious accolade last year, into second place, with Senegal star Sadio Mane, who features for Liverpool, taking third place.
The France-born forward said it was an honour to be named the best African player for the past year. “It’s a huge honour, I am happy and pleased. I thank all my team-mates at Leicester and Algeria,” Mahrez said as he received the award.
“I dedicate this to my family and all those who support me every day.”
Leicester caused a major shock when as 5,000-1 outsiders they went on to win the Premier League last season.
Mahrez, a slightly-built, right-sided forward who started out with hometown club AAS Sarcelles in 2004, played a key role in the Foxes’ stunning run with 17 goals, 10 assists in 37 appearances. He played in all but of Leicester’s games. He was the first Algerian to win a Premier League champions medal and sparked a massive following back home in Algeria for the club, who he had first thought was a rugby team when he was contacted to join them four years ago.
Mahrez’s win ended a 19-year absence on the podium for a player from north Africa since Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Other Algerians to have won the award were Rabah Madjer in 1987 and Lakhdar Belloumi in 1981.
All three players who made the shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year were also picked in CAF XI that also features Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly from Manchester United.
Goalkeeper Denis Onyango was picked for the African Player of the Year Based in Africa award ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns team-mate Khama Billiat and Zambia’s Rainford Kalaba.
Onyango was outstanding when seven-time South African champions Sundowns won an historic CAF Champions League and also when Uganda qualified for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations after a long absence.
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala grabbed her second African Women’s Player of the Year award on the back of her goals as Nigeria retained their continental crown in Cameroon.
The Arsenal Ladies star won her first when she also helped the Super Falcons emerge African champions in 2014.
Nigeria youngsters Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi won the Most Promising Talent and You th Player of the Year awards, respectively. Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama won the Best Referee Award. PARIS: Julian Draxler could make his competitive debut for Paris Saint-Germain when they begin their defence of the French Cup at home to Bastia on Saturday. The German World Cup-winning winger, 23, completed his move to Paris from Wolfsburg for a reported fee of up to 42 million euros (£36 million, $45 million) in time to make his first appearance for his new club in a friendly win over Club Africain in Tunisia on Wednesday. Giovani Lo Celso, the 20-yearold midfielder recruited from Rosario Central in his native Argentina, also made his bow in that game and PSG are hoping the new duo can provide a faltering team with a boost in the new year. “L o Celso and Draxler are i nt e l l i g e nt players who have already understood how the t e am plays. They had good games ,” said captain Th i ago Silva after the match in Tunisia, which PSG won 3-0. “With these two players we can do some great things in the second half of the season.” Unai Emery’s side, who went into the winter break in third place in Ligue 1 five points behind leaders Nice, are looking to complete a clean sweep of the domestic trophies in France for a third season in succession.
Bastia have never won away to PSG but the Parc des Princes was the scene of their finest hour, a 2-1 victory over Michel Platini’s SaintEtienne in the 1981 French Cup final when Cameroonian great Roger Milla scored the winning goal.
Nice enjoyed a superb first half to the season but will be depleted as they travel to Lorient in their round-of-64 tie.
Mario Balotelli is suspended after being red-carded in the 0-0 league draw at Bordeaux just before Christmas, while playmaker Younes Belhanda is on the sidelines with a toe injury.
Their preparations have also been disrupted by the virus that has left coach Lucien Favre bed-ridden in recent days.
Second in Ligue 1, Monaco host secondtier Ajaccio with coach Leonardo Jardim admitting that he will use the game to rotate his squad.
Marseille, who lost to PSG in last season’s final and have not lifted the trophy since 1989, go to Toulouse in one of four all-topflight ties.
Coach Rudi Garcia is hopeful of strengthening a squad that suffered four straight league wins to end 2016, but no moves have been completed yet amid speculation about a possible move to bring Dimitri Payet back to the club from West Ham United.
Lyon are at home to Montpellier while the longest journey will be undertaken by AS Excelsior.
The sixth-tier side from the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, where Payet began his career more than a decade ago, will travel to the French mainland to take on top-flight Lille.
“My biggest concern is the weather at the moment on the mainland. I am worried about how the players will react in temperatures they are not familiar with,” said Excelsior coach Bernard Mahmoud as his team prepare for the winter chill of Europe.