MAHREZ, OSHOALA AND THE OTHER WINNERS AT THE 2016 CAF AWARDS

At the International Conference Center in Abuja, Nigeria last night a new King of African Football Stars emerged.

25year-old Riyad Mahrez became the first Algerian to win the gong after his wonderful exploits and football artistry with Leicester City last season in England.

He claimed the Premier League title, PFA Player of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year to capped an amazing year for himself.

For African Player of the year based in Africa, it was Uganda goalkeeper Dennis Onyango that won it.

The Mamelodi Sundowns player stood in post as his club won the CAF Champions League for the first time - second time for a South African club - and also helps qualify his country for the Africa Nations Cup in Gabon.

The Women Player of the year was won by Nigeria and Arsenal Ladies striker, Asisat Oshoala.

In recent years, Asisat has shown like a beautiful star that she is with the Super Falcons as well as Arsenal Ladies. She was the top-scorer with six goals at the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon where her team won the title for the 8th record time.

Below are other winners on the night.

African Player of the Year
Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria and Leicester City) – 361 votes

Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon and Borussia Dortmund) – 313 votes

Sadio MANE (Senegal and Liverpool) – 186 votes

African Player of the Year – Based in Africa
Denis ONYANGO (Uganda and Mamelodi Sundowns) – 252 votes

Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe and Mamelodi Sundowns) – 228 votes

Rainford KALABA (Zambia and TP Mazembe) – 206 votes

Women’s Player of the Year
Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria and Arsenal Ladies)

Most Promising Talent
Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria and Manchester City)

Youth Player of the Year
Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal)

Coach of the Year
Pitso MOSIMANE (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Club of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

National Team of the Year
Cranes of Uganda

Women’s National Team of the Year
Super Falcons of Nigeria

Referee of the Year
Bakary Papa GASSAMA (Gambia)

Football Leader of the Year
Manuel LOPES NASCIMENTO (President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation)

Legend Award
Laurent POKOU - Former player of Cote d’Ivoire
Emilienne MBANGO - Former player of Cameroon

Platinum Award
His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari (President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

AUBAMEYANG LEADS OTHER STARS AS CAF NAMED TEAM OF THE YEAR

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) on Wednesday named his team of the year with current African Player of the Year, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the line alongside other nominees for the 2016 award.

Only the reigning AFCON champion Cote d'Ivoire has 2 players in the squad which comprises of 10 nationalities and also boast of 5 players based in Africa and 6 foreign-based.

CAF Africa Finest XI

Goalkeeper: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, Uganda).

Defenders: Serge Aurier (Paris Saint-Germain, Ivory Coast), Aymen Abdennour (Valencia,
Tunisia), Eric Bailly (Manchester United, Ivory Coast), Joyce Lomalisa (AS Vita, Democratic
Republic of Congo).

Midfielders: Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns,
Zimbabwe), Rainford Kalaba (TP
Mazembe, Zambia), Keagan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns,
South Africa).

Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Gabon), Sadio Mané (Liverpool, Senegal), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City, Algeria).

Substitutes
Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Senegal), Salif Coulibaly (TP Mazembe, Mali), Islam Slimani (Leicester City, Algeria), Mohamed Salah (Roma, Egypt), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, Nigeria).