Mali midfielder Mamadou Sangaré bags Marc-Vivien Foé award after stellar campaign

Malian international Mamadou Sangaré has been crowned the best African player of the season in France’s top flight, after a sensational campaign with RC Lens.

The 21-year-old clinched the award organised by French broadcasters RFI and France 24, succeeding Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi, who had set a high benchmark for consistency and influence in previous seasons.

The award named after the late Cameroonian striker Marc Vivien Foe is awarded to the best African player in the French Ligue 1 for every season.

Sangaré’s breakthrough year, however, proved impossible to ignore, as he accumulated 313 points to comfortably secure the prestigious honour.

He finished ahead of strong competition, with Senegal internationals Lamine Camara and Moussa Niakhaté also featuring prominently in the final rankings. Despite their impressive campaigns, neither could match Sangaré’s all-round impact and consistency across the season.

In what was his debut campaign in France’s elite division, Sangaré delivered a performance beyond expectations. Operating with maturity, energy, and technical assurance in midfield, he quickly established himself as a key figure in Lens’ system.

His numbers underline his influence: three goals and four assists, but his contribution went far beyond statistics. Sangaré dictated tempo, broke up opposition play, and became a vital link between defence and attack for a Lens side that continued to punch above its weight.

His performances in high-pressure matches particularly stood out, where his composure and tactical intelligence helped Lens remain competitive against some of the league’s biggest sides.

This recognition carries added significance as Sangaré becomes the first Malian in history to win the Marc-Vivien Foé Award, presented jointly by RFI and France 24. The honour celebrates the best African player in Ligue 1 each season and is named after the late Cameroonian midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé, whose legacy continues to resonate across world football.

For Mali, Sangaré’s triumph represents a landmark moment, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in European football and adding his name to an elite list of African stars who have dominated in France.

Sangaré’s win is also symbolic of a shifting landscape in Ligue 1, where a new generation of African talent is beginning to take centre stage. His emergence signals both personal breakthrough and broader continental progression.

For Lens, the award is further validation of their recruitment and development model, with Sangaré now firmly established as one of their most valuable assets.

As celebrations continue, attention will inevitably turn to what comes next. But for now, Sangaré stands alone at the summit of African excellence in France—an achievement that confirms his arrival on the big stage.