Liverpool's Mohamed Salah wins BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017 and 'wants to be the best Egyptian ever'

Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Tom Doyle11 December 2017

Mohamed Salah has set his sights on greatness after the Liverpool and Egypt star was named the BBC's African Footballer of the Year 2017.

Salah impressed at Roma in the 2016-17 season to earn a big-money move to Liverpool in the summer, having previously played for the Reds' Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The Egyptian has hit the ground running back in England, scoring 19 goals in all competitions for Liverpool.

Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane, Chelsea's Victor Moses and Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made the shortlist, with RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita - who will join Liverpool next summer from RB Leipzig - also nominated.

Upon receiving his trophy, Salah told BBC Sport: "I would like to win this award also next year.

"I have always followed my way, and I want everyone in Egypt to follow my way.

"Since I left Egypt, in my mind, I want to be the best Egyptian ever. I work hard and try to be different from them."​

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Salah currently leads the Premier League Golden Boot race with 13 goals this season - one more than Tottenham's Harry Kane - and struck a wonderful effort in Sunday's 1-1 Merseyside derby draw against Everton at Anfield.

The 25-year-old's impressive form has not been restricted to domestic matches though, with Salah the top scorer for Egypt in their successful 2018 World Cup qualification run.

The winger netted both goals in the decisive game against Congo, scoring a last-minute penalty to spark scenes of wild celebration for the Pharaohs to book their first World Cup finals spot since 1990.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp presented Salah with the award, telling him: " Congratulations my friend, well deserved.

"It's a fantastic prize for a pretty good player, to be honest!"