Patson Daka is 2017 African Youth Player of the Year

Patson Daka has been named 2017 CAF Young Player of the Year after seeing off competition from Senegal’s Kreppin Diatta and Mali’s Salam Gaiddou at the awards ceremony in Accra, Ghana.

And Egyptian winger Mohammed Salah has been named Africa’s best player of 2017 ahead of club mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

In all fairness, Chipolopolo rising star Daka always looked like a shoo-in for the award after a sensational 2017 for both club and country in which he inspired the Zambia Under-20 and the Red Bull Salzburg youth team to the Africa Cup and UEFA Youth League titles respectively.

He was also instrumental in the Zambia Under-20 side’s historic run to the quarterfinals of the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup before scoring against African giants Algeria and Cameroon in the senior Chipolopolo’s ill-fated Russia 2018 qualifying campaign.

The 19-year-old Daka, whose style has drawn comparisons with the legendary Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu, becomes the second Zambian since Clifford Mulenga (2007) to take home the CAF Young Player of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Egypt and Liverpool star Salah has taken home the top award for the first time ever, as he managed to defeat competition from fellow finalists Mane and Aubameyang.

The 25-year-old had a memorable campaign for Liverpool in 2017 as he scored 23 goals in 29 games after joining the English Premier League side from AS Roma.

On the international scene he helped Egypt to a second place finish at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, including goals against Ghana and Burkina Faso. His brace against Congo in helped the Pharaohs qualify for their first FIFA World Cup since 1990.

The winner of the award was selected by the current coaches and captain from every men’s national team in Africa.