Sadio Mané was once again honoured with the award for Africa’s best footballer in Morocco. Contrary to initial plans, the FC Bayern professional is now travelling directly back to Munich.
Bayern striker Sadio Mané has been named Africa’s Footballer of the Year for the second time. The 30-year-old Senegalese had won the Africa Cup this year with his home country’s national team and was voted the tournament’s best player.
With Liverpool FC, from whom Mané moved to Munich this summer, he also won the League Cup and the FA Cup, and in the Champions League he reached the final with the Reds – where he lost 1-0 to Real Madrid. “I feel very honoured to receive this award. I dedicate this trophy to the youth of my homeland,” said Mané, who is revered as a national hero in his homeland. Bayern’s CEO Oliver Kahn tweeted: “We are very happy about Sadio Mané’s award. FC Bayern has never had an African Footballer of the Year in its long history, this is a special honour for our club. “
Three Premier League professionals in the final
In addition to Mané, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah was another professional among the three finalists who featured for Liverpool last season. The trio was completed by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who was also African champion with Senegal. Salah did not come to Rabat, however, but scored the opening goal in his team’s 5-0 test match win at RB Leipzig.
Returning straight to Munich
Mané had left the FC Bayern squad in the USA for the award ceremony in the Moroccan capital, where the German record champions are currently on a preparatory trip. From North Africa, he will now fly directly to Munich, where his team-mates will also leave on Saturday night. Originally, as FCB coach Julian Nagelsmann had calculated, Mané wanted to cover “18,000 air miles” before flying back to the USA. However, he is now cutting this tour short.
