Liverpool forward Mo Salah crowned BBC African Footballer of the Year beating Sadio Mane to award
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Mo Salah has been crowned the BBC African Footballer of the Year.
The Liverpool forward has won the gong after a successful year for both club and country.
Salah began the year by reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt and later helped steer his country to their first World Cup finals since 1990.
He scored five of their seven final qualifying stage goals to send them to Russia.
Such was his impact, fans nicknamed the national team 'Salah's Egypt'.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: Liverpool FC)
His form continued domestically, as his prolific record in front of goal for Roma earned him a £37million move to Liverpool.
Since switching to Anfield, Salah, 25, has scored 20 goals in all competitions, putting him on course to break the club's seasonal scoring record.
Thirteen of his strikes have come in the Premier League, with the most recent being in the Merseyside derby draw with Everton at the weekend.
"I would like to win this award also next year," Salah told BBC Sport after receiving his award.
"I have always followed my way, and I want everyone in Egypt to follow my way.
(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/Icon Sport)
(Image: AFP)
"Since I left Egypt, in my mind, I want to be the best Egyptian ever. I work hard and try to be different from them."
Salah beat off competition from team-mate Sadio Mane, Leipzig's future Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Chelsea's Victor Moses to win the award.
He is the first Egyptian to claim success since the legendary Mohamed Aboutrika in 2008 and first Liverpool player since El Hadji Diouf in 2002.
The winner was announced on Monday evening, following a public vote on the BBC's website.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
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Other former winners of the award include Yaya Toure (2013 and 2015), Riyad Mahrez (2016) and Didier Drogba (2009).
The award was formerly the BBC's African Sportsperson of the Year, meaning athletes Haile Gbreselassie and Frankie Fredericks also have their name on the trophy.
It changed to just football in 2001.