Manchester United defender and Ivory Coast international Eric Bailly was named in Africa's Best XI at the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) 2018 awards in Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday night.
Eric was paired in central defence with Morocco and Juventus defender Medhi Benatia in the XI, which comprises the best-performing African players in 2018.
The 24-year-old played five times for Ivory Coast throughout the last calendar year, scoring his first international goal in the 4-0 win over Central Africa Republic which helped Les Elephants qualify for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Bailly is one of only two Ivorians in the team, along with Tottenham full-back Serge Aurier.
Eric joins fellow Reds centre-back Victor Lindelof in receiving an accolade in his country, after he was named Sweden’s Player of the Year for 2018 in a ceremony in Stockholm back in November.
Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition, Eric.
Africa's Best XI in full: Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns); Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast & Tottenham), Medhi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli); Thomas Partey (Ghana & Atlético Madrid), Naby Keita (Guinea & Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City); Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal), Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool).
Reading this in our app? If not, you might miss some exclusive features not found on ManUtd.com. Download the Official App here.