…No Nigerian Player in the best IX.
The Liverpool and Egyptian ace Mohamed Salah, was yesterday night announced for the second time in a row, the African Player of the Year 2018, in Dakar, Senegal.
Mo Salah bags the award amidst two other strong shortlisted contenders, including Arsenal Striker Piers Emerick Aubameyamg and his fellow Liverpool counterpart Sadio Mané.
Speaking shortly after receiving the trophy, Salah said “I have dreamt of winning this award since I was a child and now I have done so twice in a row,”
“My thanks go to my family, my team-mates and my fans and I dedicate this trophy to my homeland, Egypt.”
Mohammed Salah became the second Egyptian player to win the award after 1983 winner, Mahmoud al Khatib who was voted the best footballer in Africa.
The event also featured other awardees as, Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa was crowned African Women’s Player of the Year 2018 at the Aiteo-CAF awards, Achraf Hakimi was named African Youth Player of the Year 2018.
, while Nigeria’s female team won Women’s National Team of the Year, Mauritania are crowned the Men’s national Team of the Year, Herve Renard won Men’s coach of the Year and Desiree Ellis, coach of the Bayana Bayana, winning Women’s Coach of the Year.
Though Mohammed Salah won the award, he was also surprisingly not listed among Africa’s Best X1(Eleven) players that did not include any Nigerian.
Liverpool’s Mane, Mahrez, Aubameyang, Keita, Koulibaly, Partey, Benatia, Aurier.and Baily of Manchester United were other players who made the list, as Onyango the goalkeeper who completed the Africa Eleven as the list finally considered no Nigerian player.
