Top 5: Shoot’s 2018 BBC African Footballer of Year

2. Sadio Mane (Liverpool and Senegal)

To our runner-up now and the Senegalese star who is among the best forwards in Europe. In 2018, the attacker helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final, in which one of his 10 competition goals came in the final. Add to that 10 league goals and the 26-year-old reached 20 season goals for just the second time in his career. This term his impressive scoring tally continues with seven from 18 matches as the Reds look set to challenge Man City for the title and can qualify for the next stage of the Champions League if they defeat Napoli by two-goals in their final match. For his country, the ex-Southampton star scored his nation’s opening goal at the 2018 World Cup.