Liverpool winger Sadio Mane was crowned African Player of the Year last night , beating teammate Mohamed Salah, who had won the previous two editions of the award, to the prize.
Mane attended a ceremony in Cairo on Tuesday to collect the award, beating Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez as well as his Egyptian teammate.
Over the course of 2019, as well as helping the Reds win the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup , Mane was a part of the Senegal side that reached the final of the African Cup of Nations .
After Mane had collected his prize, Salah took to Instagram to congratulate him on the win, posting an image of the Reds' number 10 on his story.
It show him on stage with his prize, alongside the words 'Congrats bro' and an emoji of raised arms.
Mane thanked his family and teammates after picking up the gong, adding: "It is a big day for me. I don't really know how to say it but I would love to thank all the Senegalese people.
"They have been with me all the time and they push me to do better.
"I am really happy and very proud to win this."
Mane will return to Liverpool in time to face Tottenham next weekend as the Reds look to make it 20 wins from 21 in the Premier League this season with a victory.
Already this campaign, he has netted 11 times in the league and Mane will be looking to increase that tally against Jose Mourinho's men.
