Sadio Mane nominated for African Footballer of the Year award for 2016

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is in the running to win the 2016 BBC African Footballer of the Year award, following a superb 12 months.

Mane made a £30 million move to Anfield from Southampton in the summer, and he has made a wonderful start to life as a Reds player.

The 24-year-old has already managed six goals in just 11 games, and his link-up play with Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino has helped make Jurgen Klopp‘s side look unstoppable in attack.

There were some doubts of whether the Senegal international was good enough to thrive at a club of Liverpool’s size, but he has silenced the doubters in no time at all.

Mane’s efforts have not gone unnoticed over this past year—he was also excellent at Southampton prior to leaving—with his nomination for African Footballer of the Year proof of that.

His stiffest competition is likely to come from Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose relentless flow of goals in 2016 have made him one of the world’s most sought-after players.

Riyad Mahrez also stands a good chance of winning, following a sensational season with Premier League champions Leicester City, in which he took home the PFA Player of the Year award.

Also nominated are West Ham United’s Andre Ayew and Manchester City‘s Yaya Toure, although their chances appear slimmer.

Toure won the award in 2015, adding to his success in 2013, but has since faded into the periphery at the Etihad Stadium, and has played just once for City in 2016/17.

Yacine Brahimi was crowned Player of the Year in 2014, while Zambian midfielder Christopher Katongo picked up the prize in 2012 and Ayew won it in 2011, while at Marseille.

Mane was also nominated in 2015, while the last Liverpool player to be nominated was Victor Moses, when on loan on Merseyside in 2013.

The only Reds player to win the award was El Hadji Diouf in 2002, following his move from Lens.

An online public vote will decide the winner of the prestigious award, with the voting open until 6pm (GMT) on Monday November 28. The victor will be revealed next month.

You can have your say and ensure Mane takes home the prize by voting HERE.