Senegalese forward, Southampton's Sadio Mane has been named African Player of the Month of March in the English Premier League.
Organisers of the award, New African Soccer through its Awards Director Tunde Adelakun, announced the award, stating that it was another tight vote which he thought was justified.
"Mane has worked his way into reckoning in the Premier League and has been a thorn in the flesh of many defences all season" Adelakun said.
"Injuries have not been kind to him and that's probably why it took this long to win an award since he came to England" he continued.
Mane is only one of very few Africans who played the full 90 minutes in each of all matches played by his team in the month of March, scoring a crucial late goal against Crystal Palace and winning the penalty that earned the Saints a valuable point against high flying league leaders Chelsea.
Mame Biram Diouf of Stoke City as well as Dame N'doye from Hull made up the trio of shortlisted players and Adelakun was quick to commend the impact of Senegalese players in the English Premier League.
"The Senegalese have done very well this season and it's been very evident in the number of awards won by them this season so far. The way the game is being played in the present day seems to suit the build and guile of the Senegalese" he explained.
Mane's award will be presented in the coming days.
