Mane, Mendy & Aboubakar scoop AFCON 2021 awards

Sadio Mane of Senegal won Player of the tournament during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Final match between Senegal and Egypt held at Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on 06 February 2022 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Monday Feb 07, 2022. 09:54

Senegalese star Sadio Mane was named 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Player of the Tournament on Sunday night.

This was after the Liverpool FC winger helped Senegal secure a 4-2 win over Egypt on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the AFCON final at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Mane netted the winning spot-kick as the Lions of Teranga clinched their first-ever Afcon title – denying Egypt a record-extending eighth continental trophy.

The 29-year-old hit the back of the net three times and provided two assists for Senegal, who finished their 2021 AFCON campaign undefeated.

His Senegalese teammate Edouard Mendy was crowned Goalkeeper of the Tournament having been named 2021 The Best FIFA Goalkeeper last month.

The Chelsea FC shot-stopper, who missed the Lions of Teranga’s first two matches of the competition due to a positive COVD-19 test, kept three clean sheets from five matches.

While Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar walked away with the Golden Boot accolade as a reward for his consistency in front of goal.

The Al Nassr striker impressively scored eight goals in seven appearances for the Indomitable Lions as they finished third in the tournament.

He is the first player to reach the eight-goals mark in a single AFCON campaign in 48 years after DR Congo legend Ndaye Mulamba, who scored nine goals at the 1974 tournament.