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Africa: Glittering CAF Awards 2022 Hailed As an ‘Iconic’ Celebration of African Football

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Some of African football’s stellar names graced the CAF Awards 2022 last night, as the event cemented its status as one of the world’s biggest and most important football celebrations.

All the big names of the game converged on Rabat’s stunning Mohammed VI Technical Centre, donning their finest regalia and beautiful bright African colours.

Emmanuel Adebayor, El Hadji Diouf, Mercy Akide, Rigobert Song, Claude Makelele, Lucas Radebe, Samuel Eto’o, Perpetua Nkwocha, Wael Gomaa and Kalusha Bwalya were just some of the African and world football superstars who graced the occasion.

Banyana Banyana legend Amanda Dlamani said the awards were a huge step up from the times when she was still playing international football and provided huge motivation to show current players the global levels they can now attain in the game.

“I wish there was this type of reward when I was still playing. It sure is a great opportunity and motivation for players to really excel in the game. Seeing CAF Awards of this stature is really good for the development of African football,” said Dlamini.

One of the Indomitable Lionesses stars, Gaelle Moudio, said “it’s just magnificent what CAF has organised here”.

“I didn’t think it could be so grandiose. It’s an iconic moment. Players have not always been recognized for their contribution, but today things have changed so much for the better for especially African women’s football,” said Moudio of a night when Senegal’s Sadio Mane was fittingly crowned Africa’s Player of the Year and when Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala claimed a record fifth African Player of the Year title.

Super Falcons legend Rachel Ayegba said: “It’s just beautiful what we’re experiencing here. This is an event that comes during another great event that is the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. It’s just amazing to see so many big names and leaders of African football gathered in the same place at the same time,” said Ayegba, who also hailed the initiative of hosting an exhibition CAF Legends versus Morocco Legends match on the day of the CAF Awards.

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July 22, 2022
Sadio Mane, Asisat Oshoala win African Player of the Year awards | Football News

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The Senegal forward is crowned African Player of the Year after helping his country win the first AFCON title.

Sadio Mane has been named African Footballer of Year after a season that saw him kick the winning penalty for Senegal as they claimed their first Africa Cup of Nations title and repeat the feat when they secured the World Cup qualification.

The 30-year-old forward player, who signed a three-year deal with German giants Bayern Munich last month, won the award for the first time in 2019 while he was at English side Liverpool.

“I am really honoured and highly delighted to receive this award again,” Mane said on Thursday. “Thanks to my coaches, my club and national team colleagues and those friends who stood by me during difficult times.”

“I dedicate this award to the youth of Senegal. I’m very emotional and don’t have the words to express how I’m feeling,” he added.

Nigerian Asisat Oshoala won the Women’s Player of the Year for a record fifth time, overtaking compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha.

The 27-year-old Barcelona forward was forced to miss the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco due to an injury.

Sadio Mane joined Liverpool in 2016 from Southampton; last month, he signed for Bayern Munich [File: Pablo Morano/Reuters]

Mane was in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to receive the award after a dash across the Atlantic having converted a penalty for his new club in a 6-2 pre-season friendly win over DC United in Washington on Wednesday.

He won ahead of former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah from Egypt and fellow Senegal international and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Mane and Salah played pivotal roles last season with Liverpool, who lifted the FA Cup and English League Cup and finished runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League.

Salah has since signed a new contract at Anfield while Mane opted for a move, with Bayern reportedly paying an initial 32 million euros ($32.5m) that could rise to 41 million euros ($41.7m).

In February, Mane converted the decisive fifth penalty to give Senegal a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Egypt and a first Africa Cup of Nations title after the final ended 0-0 in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital.

A month later, Mane was once again the shoot-out match-winner against Egypt, this time in a World Cup playoff near Senegal’s capital, Dakar, after a 1-1 aggregate impasse.

Bayern Munich confirmed the signing of Sadio Mane from Liverpool on June 22 [File: Christof Stache/AFP]

Born in a village nearly 400km (250 miles) from Dakar, Mane attracted the attention of Metz having played for local second-tier club Generation Foot.

After enhancing his reputation at Salzburg, Mane joined Southampton, where his feats included scoring a record-breaking 176-second Premier League hat-trick against Aston Villa.

In mid-2016, the Senegalese signed for Liverpool and went on to form a fearsome front three with Salah and Brazilian Roberto Firmino.

As Mane moved to Bayern, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “My only criticism of Sadio is that maybe at times he is the only one not to realise just how good he is.”

Mane won the award for the second time in his career [Abdelhak Balhaki/Reuters]

Football: African awards winners

Men

Player of the Year: Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Club Player of the Year: Mohamed el Shenawy (Al Ahly/Egypt)

Young Player of the Year: Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)

Coach of the Year: Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

National Team of the Year: Senegal

Club of the Year: Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

Goal of the Year: Pape Ousmane Sakho (Senegal, Simba/TAN)

Women

Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)

Club Player of the Year: Evelyn Badu (Avaldsnes/Norway, Ghana)

Young Player of the Year: Badu

Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Club of the Year: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

National Team of the Year: To be announced after Cup of Nations final between Morocco and South Africa in Rabat on Saturday

Asisat Oshoala poses with the trophy next to CAF President Patrice Motsepe (left), after winning the Women’s Player of the Year award [AFP]

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July 22, 2022
Africa: CAF Awards 2022 to Be Beamed in Several Parts of the World Including New Territories

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As Africa celebrates its finest stars in Rabat, Morocco on Thursday night, major broadcasters will beam the live event in many parts of the world.

The CAF Awards will be held in Rabat, Morocco from 20h00 local time (19h00 GMT and 21h00 Cairo time).

Africa’s star footballers have been setting the world’s football stadiums alight and their popularity and talent has ensured unprecedented interest from some of the leading broadcasters in Africa and across the globe.

Already confirmed are international broadcasters across sub-Saharan Africa including Canal+, SuperSport and StarTimes, while beIN Sport will broadcast across North Africa and the Middle East, as well as on its channels in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the African region, over 44 countries will have access to the CAF Awards on their Free to Air platforms.

For the first time, CAF Awards will be shown in new territories in Europe including Germany.

For the territories not covered by CAF’s broadcast partners, CAF will stream live the CAF Awards 2022 on YouTube (CAFTV) with a choice of French or English language options.

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July 21, 2022