KAMPALA， Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's first choice goalkeeper Denis Onyango was late on Thursday crowned the 2016 African Player of the Year (African based).


Onyango who helped Uganda qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after 39-years of waiting was crowned during the Glo Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards ceremony that took place in Abuja， Nigeria.


Onyango had 252 votes， while his teammate at Sundowns and Zimbabwean striker Khama Billiat picked 228 votes and Zambia's Rainford Kalaba who helped TP Mazembe win the CAF Confederations Cup finished third with 206 votes.


Onyango was also picked as goalkeeper for Africa's finest eleven.


Uganda's national