Menu highlight using php - php

Question

I am trying to get the selected option highlighted using php
my css is as follows
ul.leftmenu {
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
width: 100%;
background-color: #ffffff;
}
ul.leftmenu li a {
display: block;
color: #2e3e49;
padding: 10px 16px 10px 35px;
text-decoration: none;
border-bottom: 1px solid #cccccc;
}
.current {
color: #00AEEF;
background-color:#ffffff;
}
ul.leftmenu li {
text-align: left;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
}
ul.leftmenu li:first-child {
border-top: 1px solid #cccccc;
}
ul.leftmenu li:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
ul.leftmenu li a:hover {
background-color: #ffffff;
color: #00aeef;
transition: .35s ease-in-out;
}
p.leftmenu {
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
margin-left: 25px;
padding: 5px;
}
my html is as follows
<p class="leftmenu"><?php echo "Welcome <br />".$_SESSION['user_name'];?></p>
<ul class="leftmenu">
<li <?php if($current == 'addproperty') {echo 'class="current"';} ?>>Add Property<li>
<li <?php if($current == 'manageproperties') {echo 'class="current"';} ?>>Manage Properties<li>
<li <?php if($current == 'searchproperty') {echo 'class="current"';} ?>>Search Property<li>
<li <?php if($current == 'savedsearch') {echo 'class="current"';} ?>>Saved Search<li>
<li <?php if($current == 'favoriteproperties') {echo 'class="current"';} ?>>Favorite Properties<li>
<li <?php if($current == 'invitefriends') {echo 'class="current"';} ?>>Invite Friends<li>
<li <?php if($current == 'editprofile') {echo 'class="current"';} ?>>Edit Profile<li>
</ul>
and on each php page i have defined
$current = 'addproperty'; (changed as per page)
Now the problem is that the .current is able to change the background color but not the color.

Answer 1

Try this ..
ul.leftmenu li.current a {
color: #00AEEF;
background-color:#ffffff;
}