Algerian is named Africa’s best footballer player

Algerian international Riyad Mahrez has been voted African Footballer of the Year 2016 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), during an award ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria.

Mahrez, who plays for English Premier League club Leicester City which also won the Premier League title last year, beat Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Senegal’s Sadio Mané.

Mahrez also won the Professional Footballers’ Association 2016 award and has confirmed he will play with the Algerian National team this year.

“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.”

Having the “Best Player of the Premier League” title also under his belt, Mahrez is the third Algerian player to claim the title of best African player. Lakhdar Belloumi won the title in 1982 and Rabah Madjer in 1987.