Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez on Thursday night clinched the African Footballer of the Year award.
Mahrez, 25, who was inspirational in Leicester City’s most unlikely win of the English Premier League title last season, beat Gabon skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, winner of the award last year.
Aubameyang came second while 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 teammates 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 teammate 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 Youth Player of the Year awards, respectively.
Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama won the Best Referee Award for the third straight year.
Award winners:
African Player of the Year:
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
African Player of the Year – based in Africa:
Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Player of the Year:
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Arsenal Ladies)
Most promising talent:
Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City)
Young Player of the Year:
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria & Arsenal)
Coach of the Year:
Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Club of the Year:
Mamelodi Sundowns
National team of the Year:
Uganda
Women’s national team of the Year:
Nigeria
Referee of the Year:
Bakary Papa Gassama
CAF African XI for 2016
Goalkeeper: Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & PSG), Aymen Abdenour (Tunisia & Valencia), Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United), Joyce Lomalisa (DRC &AS Vita)
Midfielders: Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns), Rainford Kalaba (Zambia & TP Mazembe),Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Forwards:Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund), Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
Subs: Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli), Salif Coulibaly (Mali & TP Mazembe), Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma), Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria & Arsenal)
Photo: Algerian and Leicester forward Riyad Mahrez holds a trophy after being crowned African Footballer of the Year in Abuja, on January 5, 2017. Algerian and Leicester striker Riyad Mahrez has been crowned the CAF African best Footballer for 2016 and beating former best player and Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sehegalese striker Sadio Mane, for the continent’s most prestigious individual award.
PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP
