Uganda Cranes and Mamelodi Sundowns first choice goalkeeper Dennis Onyango was picked for the African Player of the Year Based in Africa award ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Khama Billiat and Zambia’s Rainford Kalaba.

He was outstanding when seven-time South African champions Sundowns won an historic CAF Champions League and also when Uganda qualified for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations after a long absence. Onyango tallied 252 Votes, compared to clubmate Khama Billiat’s 228 and 208 for Zambia and TP Mazembe midfielder Rainford Kalaba.

At the awards, goalkeeper Onyango, named best African Player of the Year Based in Africa, was a winner on many fronts – with Cranes and his club Sundowns, best club in Africa, his coach Pitso Mosimane named Coach of the Year and he was also on the Africa XI of 2016.

This was at the glamorous awards night held at the International Conference Center in Abuja on Thursday night.