Egypt’s Salah makes history
Gala 2017‚ held on Thursday evening in Accra‚ Ghana.
Salah fended off opposition from clubmate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameya winner in 2015‚ to become the first Egyptian to win Africa’s top individual football honour since Mahmoud Al Khatib in 1983.
He polled 625 points‚ against 507 from Mane whilst Aubameyang finished a distant third with 311 points.
The feat capped a superb year for the forward who played an influential role for both club and country during the year under review.
Salah’s feat was the climax of a memorable evening for Egyptian football‚ which saw the Pharaohs being named National Team of the Year and Argentinean trainer Hector Cuper coach of the year.
Nigerian Asisat Oshoala was adjudged Women’s Player of the Year for the third time‚ after 2014 and 2016. She beat Cameroonian Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene and Chrestina Kgatlana of South Africa to the top prize.
However‚ Kgatlana took consolation in Banyana Banyana being named Women’s National team of the Year.
Patson Daka ensured Zambia was represented on the podium with the Youth Player of the Year‚ 10 years after compatriot Clifford Mulenga was decorated Most Promising Talent of the Year.
African champions Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco deservingly went home with the Club of the Year award.
Former Ghana player Ibrahim Sunday‚ a member of the Asante Kotoko squad that won the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1970‚ was decorated with the Legend award.
Caf executive committee member Ahmed Yahya‚ who doubles as president of the Mauritania Football Federation‚ was named Football Leader of the Year.
There were two Platinum Awards‚ one to Ghana President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and global football icon‚ George Weah‚ now President- of Liberia. The fans’ finest XI selected was:: Goalkeeper: Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel).
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi (Egypt & Al Ahly)‚ Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United)‚ Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly).
Midfielders: Mohamed Ounnajem (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)‚ Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco & Feyenoord)‚ Junior Ajayi (Nigeria & Al Ahly)‚ Achraf Bencharki (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club).
Forwards: Khalid Boutaib (Morocco & Yeni Malatyaspor)‚ Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)‚ Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance). — Cafonline Media Channel