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Algeria’s Mahrez named African Player of the year in colorful event in Abuja

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Published on: June 15, 2023

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Algerian and Leicester forward Riyad Mahrez poses for a photo after being crowned African Footballer of the Year in Abuja, on January 5, 2017 ©PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (AFP)

The 25th edition of the annual CAF Awards took place on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the International Conference Centre in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The night was filled with pomp and pageantry as musicians and artists across Africa entertained the world before the crowning of the African Player of the Year 2016. Nigerian Afro-beat musician Femi Kuti, and five-man South African Afro-electric band The Muffinz, Flavour N’abania, Omawumi, Yemi Alade, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Reekado Banks, Ego, Comedian Gordons, and Tanzania’s Diamond Platinumz also got those attending on their feet.

Algerian international Riyad Mahrez was crowned 2016 African Player of the Year taking the crown from Gabonese international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Mahrez was also competing against Senegalese winger Sadio Mane who came in the third position.

“It’s a huge honour to receive this award, I want to thank all my teammates, my family, Africa, and Nigeria as well,” a happy Mahrez said.

The 25-year-old Algerian, who inspired Leicester to the Premier League title, is already the PFA Player of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year.

When it all started

The Confederation of African Football started awarding the continent’s best footballers and teams since 1992.

15 players have already been awarded best players of the year with Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o crowned on four occasions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010. Ivorian Yaya Toure has also equaled Eto’o’s record. He won the award in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 while former Senegal forward, El Hadji Diouf won the award twice in a row in 2001 and 2002.

Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu was the first to be named CAF African Player of the Year on two occasions, in 1996 and 1999 before Ivorian Didier Drogba in 2006 and 2009.

Ivory Coast leads as the country with the most African Players of the Year award winners with Yaya Toure winning four and Didier Drogba winning two. Nigeria follows with five award winners: Kanu (2), Emmanuel Amunike (1), Rashidi Yekini (1) and Victor Ikpeba (1).

Cameroon also has five with Patrick Mboma winning once and Eto’o’s four awards.

Senegal, Ghana, Liberia, Morocco, Mali, Togo and Gabon won it once each.

Below is a list of player of the year award winners since the ceremony’s inception.