Mane who plays club football at Liverpool in England, helped Senegal to last year’s final of the Africa’s Nations Cup in Egypt where they were beaten in the final by Algeria. He also helped Liverpool to win the European Champions League. Oshoala, who is winning the award for the fourth time, helped Nigeria’s women team the Super Falcons to win the Africa Women Cup of Nation, AWCON, for the 11th time in Ghana in 2018. She also scored for Nigeria at last year’s women World Cup as the team made it to the round of 16.
“Four times baby!!! Sometimes you forget to smell the roses along the way in life. I’m always the type thinking about my next move and never really stop and celebrate the things in between. This is such an amazing accomplishment and I’m happy. But there’s still work to do,” an elated Oshoala posted on the social media.
“I want to create my own history and not just equal someone else’s record – I’m going to give my best to create mine,” she adds, alluding to Perpetua Nkwocha, the other Nigerian to has also won the award four times.
Senegal was agog as CAF President Ahmed Ahmed announced Sadio Mane as the best male player. The nation’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Matar Ba said, “Sadio has fought his way to progress and to become the best player on the continent. He has always ground his teeth in the face of difficulties to move forward.”
