As the AFCON tournament unfolds in Cote d’Ivoire, it’s time to reflect on the legendary players who significantly contributed to their nation’s success and championship victories.
Roger Milla – Cameroon
Talking about the best African soccer players ever, you can’t leave out Roger Milla. He’s famous for his cool dance celebrations near the corner flag, especially during the 1990 World Cup when (at the age of 28) he led Cameroon to the quarter-finals.
He contributed to the country’s success when Cameroon became the first African team to reach the last eight of the World Cup. For him, it was just another great moment in a fantastic career that spanned forty years.
Milla was named the best African footballer in 1976 and 1990. In 1986 and 1988, he was not only the best player but also the top scorer at AFCON, which Cameroon lifted in 1988. He played in four AFCON tournaments while scoring a total of seven goals.
Manuel Jose Luis Bucuane “Tico Tico” – Mozambique
Known by everyone as Tico-Tico, Manuel Bucuane is one of the greatest strikers Mozambique has ever produced. As an international footballer, he represented his country at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 (held in South Africa), 1998 (Burkina Faso) and 2010 (Angola).
Tico-Tico was part of nine Cosafa Cup tournaments over 11 years, making him one of the greatest players in that competition. During this time, he played 22 matches and scored eight goals, making him one of the most feared strikers.
Before joining Jomo Cosmos in South Africa in 1997, he played for Estrela da Amadora in Portugal. Tico-Tico also had stints with Tampa Bay Mutiny in the USA and South African PSL clubs SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates, and Maritzburg United.
Jay-Jay Okocha – Nigeria
Jay-Jay Okocha was a fantastic football player, known not just for his fancy moves but also as a leader. He played in the English Premier League and is considered one of Africa’s greatest players.
He played a key role when Nigeria won the AFCON in 1994 and was named in the tournament’s best team. Even though he didn’t win more trophies, he was the top scorer and best player in 2004 when Nigeria finished third.
Many people think Okocha might be the best player Nigeria has ever had, and some even say he’s the number one.
JAY JAY OKOCHA 🇳🇬 met his Angola opponent, Fabrice Maieco years back. This is so beautiful 😍 I wish they can play charity match again for us to watch.
— Yemolysis (@yemolysis4real) February 5, 2024
Players before and legends now.
AFCON 2023 saw Jay-Jay Okocha 🇳🇬 and Fabrice Maieco 🇦🇴 reunite again🤝#AfricanFootball #AFCON pic.twitter.com/BAQJdeiBxO
Didier Drogba – Côte d’Ivoire
In 2015, Ivory Coast won the title just one year after Didier Drogba stopped playing for the national team. He came close to winning the AFCON in his career, losing in the finals in 2006 and 2012.
Drogba was a shining player in one of Africa’s most exciting football teams. He is Ivory Coast’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring 65 goals in 105 games. In the 2012 AFCON, he was the top scorer and made it to the Team of the Tournament, achieving this in 2006 and 2008 as well.
Ivory Coast made three consecutive World Cup appearances, though they didn’t advance past the group stage each time. Drogba still inspired the team to dream, his impact on African football will always be remembered.
Ahmed Hassan – Egypt
As everyone knows, Egypt holds a special place in AFCON history. They were the first team to win the tournament and they pulled off an amazing feat by winning three times in a row in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
The key player in this success was Ahmed Hassan who played in eight AFCON tournaments for Egypt. In the 2006 tournament, he was named captain and scored four goals in six matches, the second-highest individual goal tally in that year’s tournament.
He earned the title of the best player in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and has the most AFCON titles in history, a record he shares with his fellow countryman Essam El Hadary.
When he retired, Hassan had an impressive 184 international caps, making him the fourth-highest in the world and the highest among African nations.
Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala – South Africa
Siphiwe known as Shabba Tshabalala is among the star-studded list of CAF Legends that are present at the ongoing TotatEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
He made history in African football by becoming the first player to score a goal in the World Cup hosted on the continent. His goal was later nominated for the Puskas Award, an accolade presented by FIFA for the best goal of the year.
He played for South Africa in the AFCON tournament in 2006, 2008 and 2013. He also played in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
In October 2017, Tshabalala was selected to play in two of South Africa’s World Cup qualifying matches against Senegal. This marked his return to the national team after an absence since 2014.
