He defeated teammate Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng and Wydad of Casablanca defender Achraf Dari who won the CAF Champions League title.

Despite Ahly’s loss in the Champions League final, the 33-year-old produced an outstanding performance between the sticks.

He was instrumental in Ahly’s Champions League campaign helping the team reach the final with his heroic saves and his leading personality.

El-Shennawi was the only winner from Egypt in this year’s awards.

Sadio Mane won the African player of the year award at the expense of Mohamed Salah while Ahly and the Egyptian national team lost the prizes of the club of the year and the national team of the year respectively.

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