Salah to battle Mane and Mahrez for African Player of the Year crown

Mohamed Salah faces competition from Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane and Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez in his bid to be named African Player of the Year for the third time in a row.

The Premier League stars have been named as the final three contenders for the award, which has belonged to Egypt international Salah for the past two years.

Algeria winger Mahrez won it while still at Leicester City in 2016 but Mane looks to be Salah's closest competitor after twice finishing as runner-up to his fellow Anfield favourite.

Mane has scored freely throughout 2019 and helped Senegal reached the Africa Cup of Nations final, which they lost to Algeria.

Cameroon's Ajara Nchout, Nigeria and Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala, and last year's winner Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa are shortlisted for the African Women's Player of the Year award.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hurghada, Egypt on January 7.

And then there are ! @MoSalah@LFC - @Pharaohs @Mahrez22@ManCity - @LesVerts Sadio Mané @LFC - @FootballSenegal Who will be crowned the best in Africa on the 7th of January In Hurghada? pic.twitter.com/mc7o47Bk1j

— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 22, 2019