Bengaluru, December 12: Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah's dream run continues as the 25-year-old received the prestigious BBC African Footballer of the Year Award 2017.

It is the first time that the Egyptian forward was nominated in the list and in the very first take he outshined some of the big names from the African continent to win the award.

The Premier League top scorer topped the list of a fan-voted contest and win ahead of Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Guinean and future Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, current Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Nigeria’s Victor Moses.

“I am very happy to win this award," said Salah. "It’s always a special feeling when you win something. You feel like you did a great year, so I’m very happy. I would also like to win it next year.”

"I have always followed my way, and I want everyone in Egypt to follow my way.

"Since I left Egypt, in my mind, I want to be the best Egyptian ever. I work hard and try to be different from them."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was also in full of praise for the current Premier League top scorer and claimed the former Basel winger has deservingly won the award.

“It’s well deserved,” said Jurgen Klopp. “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.”

Salah joined the Reds for £39million from Roma in the summer and has been the most influential player for the Reds. The 25-year-old has netted 19 goals in 25 appearances for Liverpool, 13 in the Premier League to be the current top scorer and six in the champions league.

He also inspired his national side to make it to the final of the African Cup of Nations in Gabon and played a significant part in his country qualification for the World Cup for the third time in their history.