Egyptian sensation Mohamed Salah has been voted as the BBC African Footballer of the Year for 2017. The 25-year-old Liverpool forward beat off competition from Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Guinean Naby Keita, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Nigeria’s Victor Moses to be named as the continent’s best player of the year.
Salah, currently the Premier League’s top-scorer with 13 goals so far, has enjoyed a stellar year for both club and country. In early 2017, the forward was the central figure for Egypt as they finished runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was at the heart of an Egypt side that qualified for the World Cup in Russia – the Pharaohs’ first World Cup since 1990.
“I am very happy to win this award,” the 25-year-old told BBC Sport. “It’s always a special feeling when you win something. I feel like I had a great year, so I’m very happy.”
“I have always followed my way, and I want everyone in Egypt to follow my way. Since I left Egypt, in my mind, I want to be the best Egyptian ever. I work hard and try to be different from them.”
Salah completed a club-record £36.9 million move to Anfield in the summer from Roma and has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring 19 goals in his opening 24 appearances.
“It’s well deserved,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who handed the trophy to the player at the club’s Melwood training academy.
“I am a really lucky person. I had the opportunity to work with a few outstanding players and I am happy that it is now with Mo.”
With 19 goals so far, Salah’s contribution to Klopp’s team has made him invaluable. Every single time we see the ball in his feet, there is a sense of optimism that something special is going to happen. 2017 isn’t over though. There are still five more games on Liverpool’s busy schedule before the New Year, and hopefully, our wing wizard can add more goals to his name and cap off a dream year.
Liverpool’s official Twitter posted a small video to congratulate Mo for winning the coveted African Footballer of the Year award. Here is how our fanbase reacted to the tweet.
Mohamed Salah has been named BBC African Footballer of the Year for 2017 🔴🏆
Congratulations, Mo! 👏https://t.co/2B6obP1Gx6 pic.twitter.com/8xhY8k0RtO
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 11, 2017
Say MashAllah so he doesn’t get evil eye
— Shan (@arslxnmc) December 11, 2017
Egyptian messi
— Simon Greenland (@SimonG_LFC) December 11, 2017
Well deserved fair play he’s done a great job for club & country , our Mo!
— GR (@redrobbo747) December 11, 2017
The main man
— Simran ✨ (@_ItsSimran) December 11, 2017
Make him a pyramid outside anfield
— Jamie Carr (@JamieCarr111) December 11, 2017
— Vinod (@imJr19) December 11, 2017
Many many congratulations @22mosalah – Messi is the Argentinian #Salah #LFC pic.twitter.com/YRPrTNyB7O
— Anfield_Sam (@Anfield_Sam) December 11, 2017
Who else? pic.twitter.com/M196tAymhr
— Liverpool FC Fanpage! (@liverpoolfc__fp) December 11, 2017
World class
— aditya rane (@adiji) December 11, 2017
Yess Mo congrats!! The best signing we’ve done in a long while❤️ I’m so happyyyy for him
— ✨Becca Ritchie✨ (@beccaa_ritchie) December 11, 2017
@22mosalah YNWA YNWA YNWA YNWA YNWA
— Maria (@Footieangel) December 11, 2017
