Mane was announced the winner at the Confederation of African Football’s award ceremony in Rabat, Morocco on Thursday.

Sadio Mane with his trophy after being announced the winner.

Sadio Mane has now won the African Footballer of the year award twice consecutively. He won it first in 2019 after beating Mo Salah whose Egypt team lost in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February.

The awards have returned for the first time in three years after being suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

” I am very very happy to receive the trophy this year” said the Senegal captain as he collected his prize. ” I thank the Senegalese people and dedicate this trophy to the youth of my country.” added Mane.

Mane was in Morocco to collect his award in person.

Also In the short list, was Edouard Mendy Chelsea and Senegal’s goalkeeper.

Mane scored the winning penalty for Senegal in the match against Egypt beating them in the Arica Cup of Nations thus Senegal lifting the trophy for the first time.

Aliou Cisse the long standing Senegal coach won Coach of the year, while Pape Sarr was named young player of the year. Pape Ousmane Sakho also from Senegal won best goal for his overhead kick for Tanzania’s Simba.