2016 CAF AWARDS: And the winner is...

Oshoala first won the CAF African Women's Footballer of the Year award in 2014

Thursday Jan 05, 2017. 13:52

We pick those who will scoop the top awards in tonight’s CAF Awards to be staged in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)

Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

WINNER: Riyad Mahrez will beat off his rivals on account of his exploits as 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester City last Premier League season

AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR-BASED IN AFRICA

Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Rainford Kalaba (Zambia & TP Mazembe)

WINNER: Khama Billiat was brilliant as Mamelodi Sundowns won an historic CAF Champions League and also when Zimbabwe qualified for the AFCON after a long absence

WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Arsenal Ladies)

Elizabeth Addo (Ghana & Kvarnsvedensik)

Gabrielle Aboudlonguene (Cameroon & Rossyanka)

WINNER: Oshoala will scoop her second continental award on the back of her goals and five-star displays as Nigeria retained the women’s AFCON in Cameroon. She won her first when she helped the Super falcons emerge African champions in 2014.

MOST PROMISING TALENT

Elia Meschak (DRC & TP Mazembe)

Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City)

Naby Keita (Guinea & RB Leipzig)

WINNER: Iheanacho to nick it ahead of Naby Keita courtesy of his great run with Manchester City and Nigeria in the past year.

YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Alex Iwobi

Eric Ayiah (Ghana & Charity FC)

Sandra Owusu-Ansah (Ghana & Supreme Ladies)

WINNER: Iwobi should be another Nigerian winner on the night based on what he has achieved at Arsenal after through the ranks.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Florent Ibenge (DRC national team)

Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Florence Omagbemi (Nigeria women’s national team)

WINNER: Mosimane crowned a year during which Sundowns reclaimed the South African championship by making history as only the second club from the country after Orlando Pirates to be African champions 21 years after.

CLUB OF THE YEAR

Mamelodi Sundowns

TP Mazembe

Zesco United

WINNER: Mamelodi Sundowns – Deserved African champions at the expense of mighty Zamalek

NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

DR Congo

Senegal

Uganda

WINNER: DR Congo won the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda in fine style

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Cameroon

Nigeria

South Africa

WINNER: Nigeria have extended their dominance in the women’s game by retaining the CAF championship at the expense of spirited hosts Cameroon

REFEREE OF THE YEAR

Bakary Papa Gassama

Ghead Zaglol Grisha

Malang Diedhiou

WINNER: Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama to win a third straight award