Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah, who is favourite to be named Africa's player of the year for the second straight year on Tuesday, refused to be drawn into comparisons with former winners Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure.

Former Cameroon striker Eto'o and ex-Ivory Coast midfielder Toure won the award a record four times each, with the latter reaching the milestone in successive years.

Salah is vying with club teammate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for this year's prize.

"Eto'o and Toure are two great players, but I only speak about myself," the 26-year-old told a news conference, a few hours before the CAF ceremony gets underway in Dakar, Senegal.

"I want to win the award again, and from tomorrow my target will be to win it for a third consecutive year."

Salah also said he was pleased Egypt was granted the right to host the summer African Cup of Nations. The country will replace Cameroon, which was stripped of the hosting rights last year over concerns over its readiness to host the expanded 24-tournament.

"Hosting the Nations Cup is a great thing. We are seeking to win the title because we have not won it for long."

Egypt won the last of their record seven titles in 2010. They reached the final of the previous edition in 2017 but lost 2-1 to Cameroon.

It will be the fifth time for Egypt to host the Nations Cup after 1959, 1974, 1986 and 2006.

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