Algeria forward, Riyad Mahrez, has capped an improbable year by clinching the 2016 Glo/CAF African Player of the Year award.
The 25-year-old saw-off competition from current holder, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, as well as Senegal’s Sadio Mane to win the coveted accolade.
Mahrez was phenomenal as Leicester City stunned everyone in a fairytale manner to clinch the Premier League title last season.
His superb contributions to the Foxes’ quest also earned him the PFA Player of the Year award – making him the first and only African to achieve the feat.
This was then followed by a global recognition in the form of the Ballon d’Or – with the ex-Le Havre attacker named seventh best in the world.
In an elaborate ceremony held on Thursday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria, Mahrez made it a hat-trick of individual honours by adding the CAF title to the BBC version he won in December.
“It’s a huge honour for me to receive this award,” Mahrez said at the event.
“I wanna thank all my team-mates both at Leicester City and Algeria. Am dedicated this award to my family.”
Aside the top award, Nigeria were obviously the biggest winners of the night having picked up four accolades. These include the Most Promising Talent, Youth Player of the Year, Women Team of the Year as well as Women’s Player of the Year awards.
Full list of award winners
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – African Player of the Year
Denis Onyango (Uganda) – African Player of the Year based in Africa
Bakary Papa Gassama (Gambia) – Referee of the Year
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) – Women’s Player of the Year
Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) – Most Promising Talent
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) – Youth Player of the Year
Pitso Mosimane (South Africa) – Coach of the Year
Super Falcons (Nigeria) – Women’s National Team of the Year
The Cranes (Uganda) – National Team of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – Club of the Year
