Sadio Mane had to miss his own party back in Senegal after winning the African Footballer of the Year award on Tuesday.

The Senegal star beat his team mate at liverpool Mohamed Salah and Algerian Riyad Mahrez to the prize for 2019, after finishing runner-up to Salah in the 2018 awards hosted by Ghana.

Mane had hoped to head straight from the ceremony in Hurghada, Egypt to the Senegalese capital Dakar, where AFP report that he was due to be met by a crowd of supporters ahead of a parade and ceremony with the country’s president.

However, his private jet was grounded after the crew failed to get permission to fly over Tunisia.

Attempts were made to secure the right to fly over the country, but after a delay it was decided that Mane would return to Liverpool to begin preparations for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Tottenham.

Mane admitted he was disappointed not to be able to return home, but the celebration will be postponed until a later date.

“I am of course very happy and proud to win this award and I want to dedicate it to everyone who has helped me on my journey from the very beginning,” Mane told the Reds’ website .

“It was my plan to first fly to Senegal to thank the people of my country and recognise them for everything they have given me on my journey, but unfortunately we were unable to make the visit.