Marc-Vivien Foé Award: Mamadou Sangaré, a historic consecration
Mamadou Sangaré, has just been named the winner of the Marc-Vivien Foé Award 2025-2026, which honors the best African player in Ligue 1. The first Malian in history to receive this distinction from RFI and France 24, the young 23-year-old prodigy stands out as the undisputed revelation of an exceptional season under the artesian colors.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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It’s a real plebiscite. To succeed the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi – who was excluded from the selection by the jury this year because of his legal affairs—, Mamadou Sangaré left only crumbs to his competitors. With an abyssal gap of 219 points over his dauphin, the Senegalese Lamine Camara (AS Monaco), and the Lyon defender Moussa Niakhaté who completes the podium, the Lens midfielder was unanimous among the voting panel, including the editorial board of Sport News Africa.
A historic first for Mali
By engraving his name on the winners' list of this prestigious trophy, Sangaré breaks a glass ceiling: he becomes the first representative of Mali to be elected best African player in Ligue 1. An award that crowns a dazzling adaptation for him who is only playing his very first season in France. Arrived with the label of hope, he leaves with the status of boss.
The architect of RC Lens
Essential to the Ligue 1 game system, Sangaré quickly won over Bollaert with his volume of play and his ability to read sequences, even though it was his first season in the league. His statistics after 33 games show his total impact: 3 goals, 4 assists, but above all an impressive physical domination with 56% of duels won and an average of 6.8 balls collected per match.
When asked about this outbreak, the person attributed his success to the special relationship with his coach, Pierre Sage: "The coach has spoken to me a lot from the beginning, and it was a real plus. He tried to make me feel confident. I think that was the key for me to really express my football here," he said on the club’s official website. Ambitious, he doesn’t intend to stop there: "I need to support the actions more and try to finish too. This is something I am keen to improve.”
Between the Champions League and European covetousness
The coronation of Sangaré is inseparable from the collective journey of RC Lens. Confident of being back in the Champions League and almost certain to finish second behind Paris Saint-Germain, the Sang et Or found in him the driving force behind their success.
However, this exhibition inevitably attracts the attention of European giants. Under contract until June 2030, Mamadou Sangaré is already the target of the most prestigious transfer rumors. Liverpool would closely monitor the situation of the Malian, even if no official offer has yet been transmitted to the Lensoise management. It remains to be seen whether the new winner of the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé will choose to discover the C1 with Lens or to give in to the sirens of the Premier League this summer. One thing is certain: her rating has just reached the top.