Morocco's Boufal wins 'Marc-Vivien Foe Award' in French Ligue 1

Moroccan international Sofiane Boufal has won the 2015-2016 Marc-Vivien Foe Award for the best African player in the French Ligue 1.

The 22 year old who plays for Lille now has a solid chance at a spot in the UEFA Europa League even though that seeks to be threatened by a recurring knee injury.

Boufal scored 11 times with five assists, helping Lille advance to secure sixth place.

Sofiane #Boufal remporte le #PrixMarcVivienFoé 2016 #WeAreLOSC https://t.co/DrI2MQ2U9P pic.twitter.com/HZEx84FGS2

— LOSC (@losclive) May 9, 2016

He succeeds last year’s winner Andre Ayew of Ghana (back then with Marseille) but now with Swansea City in England.

The award is run by RFI-FRANCE 24 , the Marc-Vivien Foe Award was named after the Cameroonian player who died during a match in Lyon’s Stade de Gerland on June 26, 2003.

He joins a prestigious list of African players who have graced the French Ligue 1, past winners include:

2015: Andre Ayew (Ghana/Marseille)
2014: Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria/Lille)
2013: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Saint-Étienne)
2012: Younès Belhanda (Morocco/Montpellier)
2011: Gervinho (Ivory Coast/Lille)
2010: Gervinho (Ivory Coast/Lille)
2009: Marouane Chamakh (Morocco/Bordeaux)