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»Africa's Footballer of the Year« is Sadio Mané for the second time in a row
Photo: ABDELHAK BALHAKI / REUTERS
Bayern Munich's new star striker Sadio Mané has been voted "African Footballer of the Year" for the second time.
The 30-year-old Senegalese prevailed against his former Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and his national team-mate Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) at a gala in Morocco's capital Rabat on Thursday.
Mané was voted Africa's Footballer of the Year in 2019.
In the past two years, the election had been canceled due to the corona pandemic.
"I feel very honored to receive this award," Mané said at the award ceremony.
"I dedicate this trophy to the youth of my homeland." Mané also thanked "my coaches, my club and national team colleagues and the friends who stood by me in difficult times".
Oliver Kahn: "A special honor for our club"
After the award became known, Bavaria's CEO Oliver Kahn also spoke up.
"We are very happy about Sadio Mané's award," he tweeted.
"In its long history, FC Bayern has never had an African Footballer of the Year in its ranks, which is a special honor for our club."
Mané comes to Bayern Munich as one of the best Premier League attackers in recent years.
In 2019 he won the Champions League, at the end of May he missed his second title in the premier class with the »Reds« against Real Madrid.
In Mané, Munich has signed a world star who is revered on the African continent: in Senegal he is a folk hero, and not only since he led the country to the African Cup for the first time in the spring.
Mané had now flown directly from Bayern's training camp in Washington DC to the award ceremony in Morocco.
The day before he had celebrated a perfect debut for the German record champions with a goal in the 6-2 friendly win against DC United.
aar/dpa
