Mohamed Salah has been crowned the African Player of the Year for 2017.
Salah beat Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane as well as Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the award at the CAF’s ceremony in Ghana on Thursday.
The Egypt international’s £36.9 million move to Anfield continued a remarkable 12 months in which he helped his country reach this summer’s World Cup finals.
Joining the Reds saw Salah’s stock continue to rise with the winger recording 24 goals to date; a hit rate only matched in the club’s all-time history by Roger Hunt.
He said: “If I can win this award twice, three, four times and even 20 times, I want to win it.
“This award is especially for me and my country, and for all of the kids in Africa.
“Being in the Premier League is good but don’t forget I was, let’s say, the star of the team in my two good seasons in Rome.
“I have always wanted to be here. I put myself under pressure and take risks. And this year has been good.
“I want to be the best Egyptian player in history.”
Prior to collecting his award in Accra, the 25-year-old was previously voted the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year in December.