Mohamed Salah beats Thomas Partey to BBC African Footballer of the Year award

Mohamed Salah has been recognised for his sterling performance for the Egyptian national team and Liverpool this season.
The 26 year old has beaten off competition from the likes of Thomas Partey, Sadio Mane, Mehdi Benatia, and Kalidou Koulibaly to claim 2018 BBC African Footballer of the Year prize.

The Premier League's player of the year scored 44 goals in 52 games for Liverpool last season.

"It's a great feeling to win again. I'm happy and I would like to win it also next year!" said Salah.

"There have been many good moments in 2018," he added. "The game against Roma at Anfield [Champions League semi-final first leg] was unbelievable. I'm scoring goals and helping the team to get the points to be top of the league. That's always a great feeling."

Salah said his aim for 2019 is "to win something with the club so everyone is excited".

"I try to push myself every day to help the team win something," he added.

The BBC received more than 650,000 votes this year - a record for the award.

Salah becomes the first player since Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha to win in consecutive years.