Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Senegal - Nicolas Jacksión

The second-highest African goal scorer in the 2023-24 season, only behind Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.

17 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Cameroon - Bryan Mbeumo

He is particularly effective at carrying the ball into dangerous areas

16 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Congo DR - Chancel Mbemba

He won the Belgian Pro League in his debut season of 2013-14.

15 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Burkina Faso - Bertrand Traoré

 He made his debut for the senior national team at the age of 15

11 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Nigeria - Victor Osimhen

He is known for his physical presence, athleticism, strength, directness

9 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Congo DR - Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Spider-Man tackling skills

8 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Morocco - Achraf Hakimi 

African Player of the Year 2025

7 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Morocco - Brahim Diaz

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 - Top Scorer

3 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Egypt - Mo Salah

Salah is the all-time top African goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League.

31 Jan 2026
2025 AFRICA CUP - How Senegal Produces Football Talent

How Senegal produces football talents

28 Jan 2026

PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016 - Riyad Mahrez is named Africa's best player

Riyad Mahrez

 

Leicester forward Riyad Mahrez has won the Confederation of African Football's player of the year award.

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

Borussia Dortmund's Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was second and Senegal and Liverpool striker Sadio Mane came third.

"It's never easy to win a big award like that," Mahrez said.

"I'm very happy to win because obviously it was against two big players.

"What happened last season was amazing, we knew it wasn't going to happen again - and it won't happen again I think, for a small team like Leicester," added the first Algerian and North African to win the prestigious individual honour since its inception by Caf in 1992.

Arsenal and Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi, 20, won the young player award.

Countryman and Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, 20, won the most promising talent award.

South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango, 31, was named Africa-based player of the year.

Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala, 22, was named female player of the year.

It was Oshoala's second title after winning in 2014 in Lagos. 

And it was double delight for her as the Super Falcons were adjudged Women's National Team of the Year following their record-extending eighth title at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in December 2016.

Two more awards came the way of Sundowns, who were named club of the year with Pitso Mosimane winning coach of the year.

Uganda's qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations after a 39-year wait was recognised with the national Team of the year award.

Gambian official Bakary Papa Gassama was named referee of the year for the third time in a row.

Manuel Lopes Nascimento, president of Guinea Bissau Football Federation was named football leader of the year - his country qualified for their first major continental championship by reaching the Nations Cup in Gabon.

Ivorian striker Laurent Pokou, who died in November, was post-humously recognised with the African Legend award, together with Cameroonian Emilienne Mbango, one of the pioneers of women's football on the continent.

The Platinium Award went to President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari.

 

 

9 Jan 2017
(BBC Sport UK)

Related countries

Related articles