Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been voted the winner of the BBC African Footballer of the Year Award 2017.

It is the first time that Salah has been shortlisted for the award with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp joining BBC presenter Mimi Fawaz at the club's Melwood training ground to present the coveted trophy as part of 'Focus on Africa' on BBC World Service.

Fans voted in record numbers to name Salah the winner from a five-man shortlist, with the current Premier League top-scorer selected in front of Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Guinean and future Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, current Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Nigeria’s Victor Moses.

“I am very happy to win this award," said Salah. "It’s always a special feeling when you win something. You feel like you did a great year, so I’m very happy. I would also like to win it next year!”

Salah was the central figure for Egypt as they finished runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations and is enjoying a hot streak of form, having already scored 13 goals so far in the Premier League.

“I want to be the best Egyptian ever so I work hard,” added Salah, who has become the third Egyptian to win the award, and first since 2008.
After joining Liverpool from Roma in June, he was named the club's player of the month in August and September. A goal on his debut helped him rack up seven goals in his first 11 Premier League games, and he has fared even better in the Champions League, with five goals in six group games.

“It’s well deserved,” said Jurgen Klopp. “I am a really lucky person. I had the opportunity to work with a few outstanding players and I am happy that it is now with Mo.

"The good thing is that he is still young, there is a lot of space for improvement, a lot of potential still that we can work on, but that’s how it should be. It’s a big pleasure, to be honest, to work with him.”

Salah joins a list of African legends including Abedi Pele, George Weah, Jay-Jay Okocha and Didier Drogba, to have won the BBC African Footballer of the Year prize.

“I am very happy to be like them in winning this award,” said the Egyptian, who follows compatriots Mohamed Barakat (2005) and the legendary Aboutreika (2008) in receiving the trophy.

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