Al-Ahram's weekly sports magazine Al-Ahram Al-Riyadi, held a celebration ceremony on Tuesday in Cairo to honor the best Egypt-based footballers of 2017 in what the magazine dubbed its first sports "Oscars." "We are very happy with our first ever Oscar ceremony. It is a great honor to give the credit to those who made achievements in the field of sports over the past year," said Al-Ahram Al-Riyadi editor-in-chief Mohamed Shabana as he opened the ceremony. Sports journalists and footballers participated jointly in voting for the awards. All members of the national team, technical staff and coach Hector Cuper were honored for the Pharaohs' reaching both the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the latter following a 28-year drought. Hany Abo Rida, the president of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), was honored as the person of the year. "We appreciate the role of sports journalism and its great role in Egypt's campaign to reach the World Cup finals," Abo Rida said in the ceremony. Cairo giants Ahly dominated the personal awards and was voted best club after winning the domestic double. Ahly's playmaker Abdallah El-Said was voted best player of the year, Moroccan striker Walid Azaro came as the best attacker and head coach Hossam El-Badry won best coach. Additionally, the Reds' star Walid Soliman got the best attacking midfielder award, while teammate Ahmed Fathi was the best right-back. Ismaily goalkeeper Mohamed Awaad received the best keeper award, while teammate Ibrahim Hassan was voted the best playmaker. Zamalek's Tarek Hamed was voted best midfielder. Masry's Mohamed Hamdy got the best left-back award. Zamalek's defender Ali Gabr, who recently completed his loan to Premier League side West Bromwich, got the best defender award. At the media level, Former Zamalek stars Hazem Emam and Ahmed "Mido" Hossam were voted best football analysts, while TV presenter Seif Zaher got the best presenter award. ON TV Channel received the award for best TV channel. Al-Ahram Al-Riyadi magazine, first launched by the Al-Ahram establishment in 1990, is one of the oldest sports publications in Egypt. Ahly striker Walid Azaro Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry Egypt's coach Cuper (L) with his assistant Mahmoud Fayez Ahly's playmaker Walid Soliman Ahly players Ahmed Fathi, Walid Azaro and Abdalla El-Said (L) Zamalek former star Hazem Emam (L) with Ahly's right-back Ahmed Fathy (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
