Senegal star Sadio Mane the only African in UEFA Fans’ Best XI of 2019

Mane and four of his Liverpool teammates make the XI but no Salah.

Just a little after a week he was named the 2019 African Player of the Year, Senegal football star Sadio Mane is the only African in UEFA Fans’ Best XI of Year.

Mane is in the XI which was released on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, after his impressive year with Liverpool and Senegal.

In the first half of 2019, the 27-year-old finished as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League with 22 goals and also scored four goals as Liverpool won the Champions League title.

For Senegal, he scored three goals in their run to the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) where they were beaten by Algeria.

In the second half of the year, he remained in top form to help Liverpool to top of the Premier League table.

Notably absent in the XI is Mane’s Liverpool teammate and fellow African Mohammed Salah.

But Liverpool do have five players in total including Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Allisson and Virgil Van Dijk.

Juventus defender Matthijs De Ligt is also in the XI after he impressed in defence for Ajax in 2019 before moving to Italy.

In midfield is Barcelona midfielder Frankie De Jong who was part of that Ajax side that caught the eyes in 2019 and Kevin De Bryune who continues to be a crucial part of Manchester City who won a domestic treble in the year under review.

Lionel Messi is in the XI after another incredible individual year alongside Cristiano Ronaldo who won Serie A title with Juventus and UEFA Nations Cup with Portugal.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is also in the XI.