Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah said on Monday he is delighted after being named BBC African Footballer of the Year, adding that he is eyeing further success.

Salah beat off fierce competition from Senegalese Sadio Mane, Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,Guinea's Naby Keita and Victor Moses of Nigeria to win the award.

"I am very happy to win this award," Salah told BBC Sport on Monday.

"It's always a special feeling when you win something. I feel like I had a great year, so I'm very happy."

"I want to be the best Egyptian ever so I work hard," he said. "I always follow my own way and I want everyone in Egypt to follow my way."

The 25-year-old has produced many fine displays throughout the year in Italy and England.

Salah scored 15 goals with Roma and provided 11 others, helping Roma finish second in Serie A, their best league position in seven years, before joining Liverpool where he took the Premier League by storm with 13 league goals.

"I would like to thank my Liverpool teammates, and I also had a good season with Roma so I have to thank my teammates there, and my teammates on the national team," said Salah, who's currently the Premier League's top scorer.

"Since I came here, I wanted to work hard and show everyone my football. I wanted to come back to the Premier League since I left, so I am very happy."

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp said that Salah deserved the prize, adding he is lucky to work with a such player.

"It's well-deserved," Jurgen Klopp told the BBC. "I am a really lucky person. I had the opportunity to work with a few outstanding players and I am happy that it is now with Mo."

"The good thing is that he is still young, there is a lot of space for improvement, a lot of potential still that we can work on, but that's how it should be. It's a big pleasure, to be honest, to work with him," Klopp concluded.

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