by Joe Apu
Algerian and Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez as well as Nigeria and Arsenal Ladies striker Asisat Oshoala have emerged the 25th Confederation of African Football African Footballers of the year at a grand ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Thursday night. Mahrez, who began his career as a youth player for French club AAS Sarcelles succeeds Gabonese player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was the winner in 2015 edition. Asisat Oshoala on the other hand was named Women’s Player of the Year ahead of Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene of Cameroon and Elizabeth Addo of Ghana. Manchester City young Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho was named the Most Promising Talent while Arsenal striker Alex Iwobi got the Youth Player of the Year award. The National Team of the year went to Uganda while Nigeria’s Super Falcons winner of the African Women Nations Cup, were named the best women national team.
They came ahead of Cameroon and South Africa. Other awards saw Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and CAF Champions League reigning champions selected as the Club of the Year beating TP Mazembe of Congo DR and Zesco United of Zambia followed in that order. Super Falcons coach Florence Omagbemi was beaten to the coach of the year award by Pitso Mosimane of Mamelodi Sundowns. In the African Player of the Year – Based in Africa, Rainford Kalaba of Zambia and TP Mazembe emerged winner ahead of Denis Onyango of Uganda and Mamelodi Sundowns and Khama Billiat.
