Ellis bags historic crown at 2022 CAF Awards

It was a night to savour for Senegalese nationals at the 2022 Confederation of African Football Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco on Thursday night, but South Africa can be proud of Coach Desiree Ellis and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC.

Sadio Mane walked away the big winner of the night as he bagged a second successive CAF Player of the Year award for his efforts with Premier League side Liverpool and his national team Senegal, with whom he won the FA Cup, EFL Cup at club level as well as the Africa Cup of Nations with the Lions of Teranga in the 2021/22 season.

? WINNER ?

CAF Player of the Year (Men):

Sadio Mane ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/OAmDoyorQK

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

The 30-year-old, who recently completed a big move from Liverpool to Bayern Munich, was also crowned Africa's best when he walked away with the same award back in 2019 - the last time the awards ceremony was held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He now draws level with former Reds teammate and Egyptian national Mohamed Salah, who walked away with back-to-back Player of the Year gongs in 2017 and 2018, when Mane finished runners-up on both occasions.

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC were the only South Africans to walk away with awards, after being crowned Women's Coach of the Year for a third successive year and Club of the Year respectively.

Ellis is the only coach to win the award since the introduction of the Women's Coach of the Year category in 2018, and is also in line to win her maiden Women's Africa Cup of Nations title, with South Africa set to face tournament hosts Morocco in the final at Prince Moulay Stadium in Rabat on Saturday evening (kick-off at 22:00 SA time).

Other winners include Nigeria's Super Falcons and FC Barcelona Femeni star Asisat Oshoala, who bagged a record fifth CAF Women's Player of the Year award, while Senegal national team coach Aliou Cisse (Men's Coach of the Year), Senegal and Simba winger Pape Ousmane Sakho (Goal of the Year), Senegal's teenage midfielder Pape Matar Sarr (Men's Young Player of the Year) and the Lions of Teranga (National Team of the Year).

? WINNERS ?

CAF Club of the Year: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies ????#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/UE5e1E1oGb

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNERS ?

CAF Club of the Year (Men): Wydad Athletic Club ????#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/V7x3ikifhU

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Inter-club Player of the Year (Women): Evelyn Badu ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/aULKj2NGJU

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Inter-club Player of the Year (Men): Mohamed El Shenawy ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/k432e7iXGO

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Young Player of the Year (Women): Evelyn Badu ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/T4g3FiakVs

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Young Player of the Year (Men): Pape Matar Sarr ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/c6djB3S0CC

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF National Team of the Year (Men): Senegal ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/FWtcriYwOa

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Goal of the Year: Pape Ousmane Sakho ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/UROYq9nbKV

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Coach of the Year (Women): Desiree Ellis ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/gQFKv8QGIR

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Coach of the Year (Men): Aliou Cisse ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/Vux50MlehF

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

? WINNER ?

CAF Player of the Year (Women):

Asisat Oshoala ?? ??#CAFAwards2022#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/TeWKCSqqsJ

” SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 21, 2022

By Web Admin