Belmadi votes for Mahrez for African Player of the Year, names Mane as competitor

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi has voted for his star player Riyad Mahrez for African Player of the Year, naming Sadio Mane as his main rival.

While he has not had his greatest or most consistent season from an individual perspective, the combination of winning the Africa Cup of Nations and the English Premier League has made Riyad Mahrez a leading contender to win Africa’s biggest individual honour.

With the award set to be given out in January, we are currently in the midst of the voting process and Algeria manager Djamel Belmadi has revealed that he will be voting for Mahrez.

Belmadi said “My vote will be for Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez has shown he can do a lot when be plays regularly.”

Despite Mohamed Salah winning the last two editions of the award, Belmadi believes his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane will be the main competitor for Mahrez.

The 43 year old added “Mane lost the African Nations Cup title with Senegal, and despite winning the Champions League I know that his dream was to embrace the continental crown with the Lions.”

In the meantime, Mahrez, Mane and Salah will all focus on the Premier League title race in which Manchester City and Liverpool appear to be going head to head once again.