Mahrez Riyad crowned Africa’s best player of the year

Leicester forward Riyad Mahrez has been crowned with the Confederation of African Football’s [CAF] player of the year award.

The 25-year-old Algerian, who helped Leicester to the Premier League title, is also the PFA Player of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year.

Borussia Dortmund’s Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was second and Senegal and Liverpool striker Sadio Mane came third.

“It’s never easy to win a big award like that,” Mahrez said.

“I’m very happy to win because obviously it was against two big players.

“What happened last season was amazing, we knew it wasn’t going to happen again – and it won’t happen again I think, for a small team like Leicester.”

Arsenal and Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi, 20, won the young player award.

Countryman and Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, 20, won the most promising talent award.

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango, 31, was named African-based player of the year and Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala, 22, was named female player of the year.

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