It is time to say goodbye - but thanks for joining us today and a huge congratulations to Mohamed Salah, who I'm sure you will agree is a worthy winner of a fine award.

And if I ever won an award (44 awardless years and counting) - I know who I'd like to receive it from.....

Salah's strike rate is now one Afoty nomination, one award win.

The striker becomes the third Egyptian player to win the BBC award – following Mohamed Barakat in 2005 and Mohamed Aboutrika in 2008.

From a club perspective, Salah is the second Liverpool player to win it, following El Hadji Diouf in 2002.

And in case you're wondering how the Premier League is stacking up in terms of recent award wins, it's three on the bounce now after Manchester City's Yaya Toure in 2015 and Leicester's Riyad Mahrez last December.

Image source, BBC Sport

While the praise rolls in for Salah, this made me laugh...

Otunba Kahill: Over 200 million people in Nigeria and we can't vote Moses to win

As BBC Africa's Nick Cavell said on Facebook a short time ago, it was a strong field of contenders this year but what Salah has done so far this season at Liverpool and his efforts in getting Egypt to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years probably tipped the balance in his favour. The 25-year-old is up to 20 goals so far this season - and that is pretty good going.

Ahmed Junior: Mohamed Salah follows the footsteps of Mohamed Barakat & @trikaofficial, external and is named the 2017 BBC African Player of the Year.

And in case their words alone are not enough, watch Jurgen give Mo his award...

......if Jurgen ever fancies a change of career I can think of a few different fields where he might excel.

Paulinè Kahuubire: I knew it! #BBCAFOTY, external

Lee Muhapi: Moses deserved it, he won the league!

Damilare: Mo Salah's form this season should win him the award next year. It should be Moses based on what happened last season!

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was furious after his team's draw against Everton on Sunday.

Klopp, in case you haven't heard, was unhappy with the penalty decision that led to Everton's equaliser.

But what does make Klopp happy is being able to pick Salah.

The 25-year-old has certainly got around - he has already played for Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina and Roma - and joined Liverpool in the summer.

"I think the good thing is he is still young, there is a lot of space for improvement, lots of potential we can work on," said Klopp.

"It’s a big pleasure to be honest to work with him and the other guys.

"On a good day, we make it easy for each other and that’s how football should be, as it’s still a game."

Mostafa: Salah definitely deserves it. Out of seven goals Eqypt scored in World Cup qualification, Salah scored five and made two and he's basically carrying Liverpool!

Ahmed Helmy: Congratulations Salah, all of Egypt is proud of you!

Aidan Semple: What a year for Mo Salah. Excellent at Roma, and now excelling at Liverpool. World Class. Well deserved

Eslam Magdy:@22mosalah, external wins #BBCAFOTY, external, totally deserved after a great year for our Egyptian Star, tops PL scorers and leading Liverpool attack, the best winger in Permier league this season so far, hope he wins PL player of the month and The African Footballer of the Year award too

Image source, Reuters

It has not been a bad weekend for Mohamed Salah, smashing home a stunner in the Merseyside derby on Sunday, picking up his first African Footballer of the Year on Monday.

He told BBC Sport:

Efan Ekoku
Former Nigeria international

Salah has a maturity that he did not have at Chelsea.

He is one of the best attackers in world football.

Yep, Salah has been named the winner.

No dice this year for Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane.

We have a winner....published at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017

17:51 GMT 11 December 2017

Let's do this in visual form.......

Image source, BBC Sport

Paul Longden: Salah, I can't see it being anyone else!

Jay Silvester: Mo Salah has to be the winner at the minute. Aubameyang hasn't done much this year, while Salah has been smashing the Premier League this season and last season with Roma, he was a world-class winger.

Mohamed Osama Yousef: Salah directly contributed to 48 goals in 55 games this year and he is a winger! That is incredible. And he helped Egypt reach the World Cup and the AFCON final. Easy decision!

Alusine Sillah-Bah: Victor Moses should win it, he was a very consistent player last season playing out of his natural position all season and he was key to Chelsea winning the league.

Gabriel Zakuani
DR Congo international

Mohamed Salah has settled in straight away, usually you have to adapt to the pace of the Premier League.

It looks like he has been there his whole career, he has been amazing for Liverpool and found his form straight away.

Efan Ekoku
Former Nigeria international

Sadio Mane has been so exciting for all Liverpool fans - he is a fighter. He is very much a modern-day striker.

Down to two....Mane and Salah.

We can now reveal that Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will not be winning the award this year.

That leaves us with just two men left - the Liverpool duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Nation: Gabon

Age: 28

Club efforts in 2017: The fashion-loving forward hit 40 goals in all competitions as Dortmund won the German cup.

International efforts in 2017: The Gabon captain had a year to forget as his country became only the fourth Africa Cup of Nations hosts to exit in the group stage, despite his two goals in three games.

Image source, BBC Sport