Egyptian Mohamed Salah has been voted BBC African Footballer of the Year for 2017.
Following a document variety of votes, the Liverpool famous person received in advance of Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Guinean Naby Keita, Sadio Mane of Senegal and Nigeria’s Victor Moses.
“I am very glad to win this award,” the 25-yr-old advised BBC Sport.
“It’s always a unique feeling while you win something. I experience like I had a extraordinary 12 months, so I’m very satisfied.”
Salah, the Premier League’s pinnacle scorer with 13 goals, has enjoyed a stellar year for each membership and united states of america.
In early 2017, the ahead turned into the significant parent for Egypt as they finished runners-up on the Africa Cup of Nations.
He also had a hand in all seven of the desires that took the Pharaohs to their first World Cup in view that 1990 – helping and scoring five, together with the stoppage-time penalty in opposition to Congo that qualified them for Russia.
“I want to be the first-class Egyptian ever so I paintings tough,” introduced Salah, who is the third player from Egypt to win the award and first when you consider that 2008.
“I continually follow my own way and I want each person in Egypt to follow my way.”
Salah’s shape at club level as been every bit as superb because it has in internationals.
In Italy, he scored 15 goals and made 11 others as he helped Roma end 2d in Serie A, their satisfactory league putting in seven years, prior to joining Liverpool and scoring 13 instances in his first 16 league video games.
“I would like to thank my Liverpool crew-mates and I additionally had an amazing season with Roma so I should thank my crew-mates there and my group-associates inside the country wide group,” stated Salah.
Since I got here right here, I desired to paintings difficult and display all and sundry my football. I wanted to come back again to the Premier League on account that I left, so I am very satisfied.”
Salah has taken the Premier League by means of typhoon this season, in assessment to a much less outstanding spell within the division with Chelsea between 2014-15.
“It’s nicely-deserved,” stated Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who handed the trophy to the player at the membership’s Melwood education academy.
“I am a certainly lucky character. I had the possibility to work with some extraordinary players and I am happy that it’s miles now with Mo.
“The good aspect is that he’s nonetheless young, there is a lot of area for development, a number of ability still that we can paintings on, however that is how it need to be. It’s a large delight, to be sincere, to work with him.”
By prevailing the BBC African Footballer of the yr prize Salah provides his call to a list of legends together with Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) and Michael Essien.
“I am very satisfied to be like them in triumphing this award,” said Salah, who follows compatriots Mohamed Barakat (2005) and Mohamed Aboutrika (2008) in receiving the trophy.
Previous winners
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City & Algeria)
2015: Yaya Toure (Manchester City & Ivory Coast)
2014: Yacine Brahimi (Porto & Algeria)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City & Ivory Coast)
2012: Chris Katongo (Henan Construction & Zambia)
2011: Andre Ayew (Marseille & Ghana)
2010: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland & Ghana)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)
2008: Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly & Egypt)
2007: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal & Togo)
2006: Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana)
2005: Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahly & Egypt)
2004: Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
2003: Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
2002: El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)
2001: Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)
2000: Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroon)