Elneny: ‘Mohamed Salah is a legend now in Egypt’

Mohamed Elneny

believes

Mohamed Salah

is the greatest African player and has ranked the

“legend” above the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, and Yaya Toure.

Salah has made 191 appearances for Liverpool through which he has been able to score 119 goals.

“Mohamed Salah is a legend now in Egypt and he’s still playing,”

Elneny told

when he was shown a shortlist of African talent in which Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, El-Hadji Diouf, and Frederic Kanoute were included.

“We know that legends are usually when they finish their careers but when they’re still playing and people look at you as a legend this is something big.

“He’s a really good guy.

“Toure, because he’s a midfielder I know what he’s doing and I know how it’s different because it’s more difficult than a striker. Strikers get the chance to score all the time and midfielders have to do so many things.

“But of course I go for Mohamed Salah!”

African players have been awarded the

CAF Player of the Year

since 1992. They were first handed out by France Football alongside their Ballon d’Or prize that was given to the best player in Europe.

Liverpool star Mane is the current holder of the award and has prevented Salah from completing a notable hat-trick of top-spot finishes.

Manchester City icon Toure has won the award four times in a row between 2011 and 2014. Ex-Barcelona striker Eto’o has also won four prizes and is ranked alongside Toure at the top of a notable awards chart.

AC Milan great George Weah and Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele have also won three gongs apiece.

Former Chelsea frontman Drogba was also given the award two times, as did Diouf, Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu, and Cameroon star Roger Milla.

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