- Egypt and Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah is the reigning CAF African Player of the Year following his impressive performance for the Premier League side and the award has continued to put African players on their toes while they are rewarded for their contributions for their clubs and countries respectively
Every year, African players are rewarded for their impressive performances at their various club and countries.
Match officials are also honoured for upholding the laws of the game and discharging their duties without prejudice to any team.
The maiden edition of the awards was staged in 1992 when the best African Footballer of the Year was recognized.
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However, the scope of the gala has been expanded to accommodate other categories including the women footballers for their enormous contribution to the game.
Ghana legend Abedi Pele won the first edition of the award after helping French League side Olympique Marseille win the UEFA Champions League in 1992.
The Serie A side defeated Italian League giants AC Milan 1-0 at the Olympia stadion in Germany with Basile Boli scoring the only goal of the match.
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He also led the Black Stars to the final of the African Cup of Nations the same year but lost 11-10 on penalties to Ivory Coast Senegal.
Over the years, the award has gain global recognition beyond the shores of Africa as the award is bestowed on players for their exemplary contribution towards the development and promotion of football, both on and off the pitch.
- 1992: Abedi Pele - Ghana and Marseille
- 1993: Rashidi Yekini - Nigeria and Vitória de Setúbal
- 1994: Emmanuel Amuneke - Nigeria and Sporting CP
- 1995: George Weah - Liberia and AC Milan
- 1996: Nwankwo Kanu - Nigeria and Internazionale
- 1997: Victor Ikpeba - Nigeria and Monaco
- 1998: Mustapha Hadji - Morocco and Deportivo La Coruña
- 1999: Nwankwo Kanu - Nigeria and Arsenal
- 2000: Patrick M'Boma - Cameroon and Parma
- 2001: El Hadji Diouf - Senegal and Lens
- 2002: El Hadji Diouf - Senegal and Liverpool
- 2003: Samuel Eto'o - Cameroon and Mallorca
- 2004: Samuel Eto'o - Cameroon and Barcelona
- 2005: Samuel Eto'o - Cameroon and Barcelona
- 2006: Didier Drogba - Ivory Coast and Chelsea
- 2007: Frédéric Kanouté - Mali and Sevilla
- 2008: Emmanuel Adebayor - Mali and Arsenal
- 2009: Didier Drogba - Ivory Coast and Chelsea
- 2010: Samuel Eto'o - Cameroon and Inter Milan
- 2011: Yaya Touré - Ivory Coast and Manchester City
- 2012: Yaya Touré - Ivory Coast and Manchester City
- 2013: Yaya Touré - Ivory Coast and Manchester City
- 2014: Yaya Touré - Ivory Coast and Manchester City
- 2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Gabon and Borussia Dortmund
- 2016: Riyad Mahrez - Algeria and Leicester City
- 2017: Mohamed Salah - Egypt and Liverpool
Cameroon are the most success in the history of the awards with their players winning seven times (1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2003) in the last 26 editions.
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Source: Naija.ng
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