麻豆APP

Didier Drogba By Y.Leclercq.

55 Best African Soccer Players Of All Time

Soccer, also known as football, is one of Africa’s most popular sports. The game has not only attracted fans, but it has also nurtured and developed talents who have gone on to become some of Africa’s and the world’s most iconic footballers. Great footballers have been born in Africa and have represented their countries in local leagues and international matches. As if that weren’t enough, great soccer talents have attracted European clubs to play in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Serie A, among other leagues in various countries. These players have gone on to serve as ambassadors for their respective countries, inspiring future generations who look up to them. In this context, we are focusing on the top 55 rated Best Africa footballers of all time. Join us as we explore, whether you are a soccer fanatic or just a reader curious about them.

1. Samuel Eto’o

By 袦邪泄芯褉芯胁 Wikimedia Commons

One of the expected players to top our list definitely is Samuel. He is a Cameroonian football administrator and former player who is the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation starting on December 11, 2021.

In his prime, Eto’o was regarded by pundits as one of the world’s best strikers, and he is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, having won the African Player of the Year award a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. Eto’o was a key member of the great Cameroon team that won two Cup of Nations tournaments, and Olympic gold, and represented the Indomitable Lions in three World Cups.

He has also contributed significantly to the national team’s African outings, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer. Eto’o is Cameroon’s all-time leading scorer and the all-time leading scorer in Cup of Nations history.

2. George Weah

Weah, known as “King George,” was one of the greatest African footballers of the late 1990s. His football prowess saw him win numerous trophies with AC Milan, PSG Monaco, and Chelsea.

In 1995, he became the first African player to win the Ballon d’Or, European Footballer of the Year, and FIFA World Player.

Weah was from Liberia, a small country with a population of 5 million people. He never achieved national team success, but he served as an inspiration to many African footballers.

George was known for his quickness and goal-scoring instinct. He was unquestionably one of the greatest African footballers to ever grace the field.

3. Mohammed Salah

By Werner100359

The man represents Pharaoh’s land. He is one of Egypt’s football players who has achieved significant success. Since his arrival, Salah has been a lethal player in Klopp’s squad.

He is known for his quickness and deft dribbles that catch opposing defenders off guard. Mo Salah is one of the biggest names in football around the world. He has demonstrated his abilities by winning several awards, including the Golden Boot for finishing as the top goal scorer in the English Premier League.

With Salah in the squad, you can be confident as a fan or a coach that he can save the day by scoring whenever he gets the chance. Salah has led his country in a number of high-profile matches, including the AFCON and World Cup. He ranks among the best African soccer players of all time.

Read Top 10 Greatest Egyptian Football (Soccer) Players of All Time

4. Didier Drogba

By Y.Leclercq.

Talk about the players who brought Chelsea FC glory and raised the club’s standards, and one of the legends is Didier Drogba. He will almost never be linked with another club.

One of the most important talents we had in those early days. He is a retired Ivorian professional footballer who played as a striker.  Drogba is the Ivory Coast national team’s all-time leading scorer and former captain.

He is considered one of the greatest African players of all time, and he was known for his physical strength, speed, ability in the air, powerful and accurate strikes, and ball retention. Drogba won the African Footballer of the Year award twice, in 2006 and 2009. He is also the player with the most runner-up finishes, third-place finishes, and top-three finishes.

5. Sadio Mane

We bring you a well-liked, humble, and extremely talented player who has made a name for himself on a global scale. Sadio Mane is a Senegalese footballer.

Since his arrival at Liverpool, his talent has blossomed and he has become a threat that no opponent wishes to face. Sadio has demonstrated exceptional talent by matching the Senegal International team to various matches.

He has led his team to two World Cups and is currently assisting his national team in winning the Africa Cup of Nations against his close competitor Mo Salah. He is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays for the Bundesliga club Bayern Munich as well as the Senegal national team. Widely regarded as one of the world’s best players and one of the greatest African players of all time.

Read Top 10 Amazing Facts about Football Star Sadio Man茅

6. Yaya Toure

By Football.ua

Yaya Toure, also known as “The Tall Introvert,” has achieved success at both the international and club levels. He led the Ivory Coast to victory at the 2015 AFCON. Toure has also won league championships with top clubs such as FC Barcelona and Manchester City. With the Spanish giants, he won the Champions League. He is without a doubt one of the best African footballers of all time.

The midfielder was also named African Footballer of the Year four times. Toure was known for his strength, vision, and instinct for scoring goals. In fact, he scored 20 league goals for Manchester City in the 2013-14 season, which is an incredible feat for a defensive midfielder.

7. Roger Milla

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics named the Cameroonian international the second-greatest African player in the last 100 years (IFFHS). He has made significant contributions to Cameroon’s history. 

Milla assisted them in reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990, making them the first African team to do so.

He scored against Russia at the age of 42, making him the World Cup’s oldest goalscorer. He was also named African Footballer of the Year twice. The striker was also instrumental in Cameroon’s AFCON victories in 1984 and 1988.

8. Essam El-Hadary

The goalkeeper, also known as “The High Dam,” is one of Egypt’s most decorated players and one of the greatest African footballers of all time. He made his Pharaohs debut in 1996. 

Essam has four African Cup of Nations titles with them, three of which have come in consecutive years (2006, 2008, and 2010).

He became the oldest player to play in a FIFA World Cup match at the age of 45. The match was played against Saudi Arabia in the 2018 edition in Russia. With Al Ahly, he won the Egyptian league eight times. He also won the Sudanese league title with Al-Merreikh.

9. Abedi Ayew 鈥楶ele鈥� 

Abedi Ayew was the attacking midfielder. In 1982, he led the Black Stars to the AFCON title. He was also named Player of the Tournament a decade later.

Unfortunately, Ghana was defeated on penalties by the Ivory Coast. He won Ligue 1 with Marseille three years in a row in 1991, 1992, and 1993. (the last title was scrapped due to a scandal).

With them, he also won the UEFA Champions League in 1993, defeating AC Milan. In that final, he was named Man of the Match. The Ghanaian was also named African Footballer of the Year three times.

10. Nwankwo Kanu

The Nigerian has competed in three World Cups. Kanu has an Olympic gold medal to his name, but he has never won the African Cup of Nations. With Ajax, he won the Eredivisie three times and the Champions League once. The striker was also a member of Arsene Wenger’s 2003-04 Arsenal squad, also known as ‘The Invincibles.’

Despite his success, he was relegated to Portsmouth in the latter stages of his career. He was also named African Footballer of the Year twice.

11. John Obi Mikel

He spent over a decade with the club he joined as a fresh-faced 19-year-old, during which time he won every major honor, including an Africa Cup of Nations and a bronze medal with Nigeria at the Rio Olympics.

Mikel was a consistent presence in the Chelsea team during his time in west London. He was a strong, powerful midfielder with excellent positional sense and a sure touch.

He retired in 2017 after winning the Premier League twice, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice, as well as the Champions League and Europa League.

His importance to the team was always felt by those who managed and played alongside him during his 372 appearances for the Blues, putting him in the top tier of foreign players to have represented Chelsea.

12. Emmanuel Adebayor

By Roger Gor膮czniak

He is a Togolese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Semassi of the Togolese Championnat National. He previously played for Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Crystal Palace, as well as clubs in France and Spain.

While playing for Arsenal, Emmanuel was named African Footballer of the Year in 2008. Adebayor played for Togo in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the country’s first and only appearance in the World Cup.

Adebayor was one of the players involved when the Togo team’s bus was shot at on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in January 2010, after which he retired from national team duty.

He returned to the Togo team in 2013 for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, where he helped them reach the quarter-finals. With 32 goals, he is Togo’s all-time leading scorer.

13. Riyad Mahrez

Mahrez was a key figure in the biggest upset in English football history, helping Leicester win the Premier League in 2015/16 and becoming the first Algerian to do so. The PFA Player of the Year award was well deserved after scoring 17 goals in 37 appearances.

He’s become one of the most dependable players in the world since joining Manchester City, with a world-class first touch and an electric ability to cut in from the right and make something happen for Pep Guardiola’s side. He’s progressed from a thrilling outlier season at Leicester to outstanding consistency – and he’s also a lot of fun to watch.

14. Michael Essien

If your local pub quiz asked, “Which African was the first to win Chelsea’s Player of the Year award and the club’s Goal of the Season gong twice in three years?” everyone would write down Didier Drogba.

Except that it wasn’t. Essien, who joined Chelsea from Lyon for 拢24.4 million in 2005, won both personal trophies in 2007, and the goal prize again two years later.

His career in England ended when injuries began to take their toll, but Essien helped Chelsea win two league titles, four FA Cups, and the Champions League in nine seasons. Not only is he one of the Premier League’s best Africans, but he’s also one of the league’s best midfielders.

15. Benni McCarthy

McCarthy. Courtesy of East Ham Bull

You may be wondering where Manchester has found its form for the 2022/2023 season. Manchester United’s new coach was aware of Benni’s coaching ability, which is why he was the first person he requested upon his arrival. Benni is a first-team coach at Manchester United and a former player from South Africa. He previously served as the head coach of the South African Premier League club AmaZulu.

McCarthy, a former forward, is South Africa’s all-time leading scorer with 31 goals. In addition, he is the only South African to have won the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2003-04. One of Africa’s top soccer players of all time.

16. Jay-Jay Okocha

Okocha’s sublime technical ability and flair were eye-catching, establishing him as one of the most gifted players of his generation.

He won the AFCON in 1994 and an Olympic goal with the Super Eagles two years later, and in 2004, he was the AFCON’s joint top scorer and the competition’s outstanding individual.

Okocha played for Fenerbahce, 麻豆APP Saint-Germain, and Bolton, among others, but he never won a league title, and his trophy cabinet is surprisingly small for a player of his caliber.

Despite this, Okocha was an aesthetically pleasing player who made football fun with his outrageous tricks and daring talent – he will be remembered as an African footballing icon.

17. Lucas Radebe

Lucas Radebe, a Leeds legend, is the best South African player of all time, having excelled during his nine-year spell in England before retiring in 2005 after making 200 appearances for the Whites.

Radebe began his career as a midfielder, eventually transitioning into an elegant center-back capable of competing at the highest level.

He was promoted to club captain at Leeds in 1998, guiding them to fourth and third in consecutive seasons, two years after inspiring South Africa to AFCON success.

18. Sammy Kuffour

Between 1993 and 2005, Sammy Kuffour was an ever-present at the back for Bayern Munich, contributing to a total of 14 awards, including six Bundesliga titles and a Champions League.

The Ghanaian wasn’t the tallest central defender, but he made up for it with sharp positioning and sheer strength. He was named the BBC African Player of the Year in 2001 after Bayern won the Champions League, and he was widely regarded as one of Europe’s most complete defenders at the time.

19. Rabah Madjer

Rabah Madjer was a pivotal figure in Porto’s history, appearing in over 100 games for the Portuguese club between 1985 and 1991 and scoring 51 goals.

The Algerian striker was a key figure in Porto’s nine major titles during that period, with his most notable contribution being his goal in the 1986 European Cup final victory over Bayern Munich.

He also excelled on the international stage, being named player of the tournament when Algeria won the AFCON in 1990.

20. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

By Chensiyuan

Aubameyang is best known for his time as an Arsenal player. He posed a threat to the opponents whenever the defenders dozed off at their posts. Currently plays for Premier League club Chelsea as a striker. He is known for his speed, finishing ability, and off-ball movement. 

Aubameyang is a former Gabonese international and the country’s all-time leading goal scorer. He was born in France. Whatever your feelings are about the Gabonese striker’s overall game, you can’t deny his record in front of the goal.

Aubameyang scored 98 goals for Borussia Dortmund, ranking him sixth all-time. He won the Bundesliga Golden Boot in 2017 and, most recently, shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in 2019.

21. Yakubu

Yakubu earned a move to the Premier League with Portsmouth after impressing for Maccabi Haifa during their 2002/03 Champions League campaign, before going on to represent Middlesbrough, Everton, and Blackburn.

He was a physically dominant striker who scored 96 Premier League goals between 2003 and 2012, making him the league’s second-highest African goalscorer in history. He also scored 21 goals for Nigeria, making him the national team’s third-highest scorer.

22. Frederic Kanoute

Frederic Kanoute was the first player born outside Africa to win the African Footballer of the Year award in 2007, and he spent the majority of his career with West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, and Sevilla.

The Malian’s best form came during his seven-year spell in Spain with Sevilla, where he scored 89 goals and won six titles, including two Copa del Reys and two UEFA Cups. He also appeared in 39 matches for Mali, scoring 23 goals.

23. Wilfried Zaha

By Public Domain.

The effort he puts in on the field suggests that he is not playing for a club of his caliber. It is not meant to belittle the club, but everyone is aware of Zaha’s magical tricks on opposing defenders as well as his ability to score crucial goals. Zaha is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Crystal Palace in the Premier League and for the Ivory Coast national team. Zaha was born in the Ivory Coast and raised in England since the age of four. He made his England national team debut in 2012, appearing in two non-competitive matches (the latter of which came in 2013). He switched to Ivory Coast ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after not playing for England for four years. Zaha is one of the best African footballers of all time because he does everything on the field.

24. Mustapha Hadji

Mustapha Hadji is remembered fondly by Coventry City fans, having spent two seasons with the Sky Blues under Gordon Strachan between 1999 and 2001.

The Moroccan was an accomplished attacking midfielder who was unlucky not to have much international success with the Atlas Lions.

However, he was able to leave a mark on the 1998 World Cup, where he put in a dazzling individual display against Norway – which contributed to his being named African Footballer of the Year.

25. Tony Yeboah

Tony Yeboah is best known for his spectacular goals for Leeds United, but he was also a well-rounded striker who demonstrated his ability in front of goal throughout his time in Europe.

When he was given the armband at Eintracht Frankfurt, he became the first black captain in Bundesliga history.

He finished as the top Bundesliga scorer twice in 1993 and 1994 and then went on to score 32 times in 66 appearances for Leeds, becoming a cult hero in the process.

26. Gervinho

Gervinho’s time at Arsenal was, to put it mildly, disappointing, but he has since gone on to forge an impressive career in Serie A, demonstrating his undeniable talent.

In 2018/19, he was outstanding for Parma, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists in 30 Serie A appearances, his most productive season since his successful stint at Lille.

It was especially impressive given that he had only recently returned from two years in the Chinese Super League wilderness.

27. Kolo Toure 

By Jake Brown

Kolo Toure is remembered fondly for his all-action approach to defending. He began his long Premier League career as part of Arsenal’s ‘invincible’ season, before moving on to success with Manchester City and Liverpool.

In his day, Toure was one of the Premier League’s most formidable defenders, as few strikers could match his sheer physicality.

He finished his international career by winning the African Cup of Nations in 2015, becoming the country’s second-most-capped player with 120 appearances.

 28. Victor Osimhen

By pino_alpino

Osimhen, known for being the only European player to wear a mask in every match, has set Napoli FC as a very dangerous team to face in the 2022/2023 season. He is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Napoli as well as the Nigeria national team.

He is regarded as one of the best strikers in the world due to his speed, clinical finishing, and athleticism. In the 2021-22 season, he was named Serie A’s Best Young Player.

Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at Nigeria’s 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup victory. In June 2017, he made his senior international debut, and he competed in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He is currently the Nigeria national team’s ninth all-time leading scorer. He has already established himself, and he will be a great player for Africa to be proud of.

29. 脡douard Mendy

By Happiraphael

Senegal is not only blessed with forwards but also with shot-stoppers. Shot savers are very clinical people in football because they play a big role in scoring. With a quality goalkeeper, the team is guaranteed to win, if not draw. Mendy is an outstanding goalkeeper.

Osoque, 脡douard Mendy is a Senegalese football goalkeeper who plays for Premier League club Chelsea and the Senegal national team. In his first season, he quickly broke into the starting lineup, becoming the club’s first African goalkeeper to do so.

Mendy also set a new record with nine clean sheets in a UEFA Champions League season. He was also named UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and Best FIFA Goalkeeper of 2021, making him the first African goalkeeper in football history to receive both honors.

30. Mohamed Barakat

Mohamed Barakat is one of Egypt’s most decorated players, having won the African Champions League five times with Al Ahly.

Despite his role as a playmaker on the right side of the attack, Barakat was a hardworking individual who could contribute in defense, making him an important figure in Egypt’s AFCON victory in 2006.

31. Finidi George

He is a former player and Nigerian professional football coach who is currently the head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League club Enyimba F.C. He was a right winger when he was a player.

After making a name for himself at Ajax in the Netherlands, where he was a key figure in a team that won eight major titles, including the 1995 Champions League, he spent several years with Real Betis in Spain before retiring.

Finidi was a key member of Nigeria’s team in the 1990s, appearing in two World Cups.

Finidi wore the iconic number 7 jersey for Nigeria throughout his football career.
Enyimba F.C. named Finidi as their new head coach in September 2021.

32. Vincent Aboubakar

By Franco23

He is a Cameroonian footballer who currently plays as a striker for the Turkish S眉per Lig club Be艧ikta艧 and captains the Cameroon national team.

Abubakar began his career at Coton Sport before moving to Europe in 2010, where he played for Ligue 1 clubs Valenciennes and Lorient, totaling 109 appearances and 26 goals. He joined Porto in 2014, where he played 125 games and scored 58 goals while winning the Primeira Liga. While on loan at Be艧ikta艧 in 2017, he won the Turkish Super Lig, and he will do so again in 2021.

Since his international debut in May 2010, Abubakar has earned over 90 caps for Cameroon. He was a member of their squads for the FIFA World Cups in 2010, 2014, and 2022, as well as the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, 2017, and 2021. He scored the game-winning goal in the 2017 tournament final and was the tournament’s leading scorer in 2021.

33. Patrick M鈥橞oma

Patrick M’Boma was the driving force behind Cameroon’s success at the turn of the millennium, leading the line for the Indomitable Lions as they won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.

In 2000, he was named African Footballer of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year, but his international success was sadly not replicated during a rather uninspiring club career.

34. Th茅ophile Abega

Abega, dubbed Doctor, was a Cameroonian footballer and politician. He was a midfielder for the Cameroon national football team, appearing in all three matches at the 1982 FIFA World Cup and captaining the team to their first African Nations Cup victory in 1984, in which he scored a goal.

He was dubbed “The Doctor” because of his football intelligence. Abega retired from football in 1987 after colliding with Zambian goalkeeper Efford Chabala during the 1986 African Cup of Nations. Abega then entered politics, eventually becoming the mayor of Yaound茅’s sixth arrondissement. 

CAF named him one of the best 200 African football players of the last 50 years in 2006.

35. Hossam Hassan

He is an Egyptian professional football coach as well as a former striker. He is Egypt’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 83 goals in 176 appearances. His twin brother Ibrahim, who also played professional football, shared teams for the majority of their lengthy careers.

Hassan played for his country in the 1990 World Cup as well as seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in African football history, and he holds the third most caps in men’s international football.

36. Bruce Grobbelaar

Zimbabwe, in addition to being a place to anchor itself in the list, has produced a great goalkeeper. Zimbabwe is represented on our list by Bruce Grobbelaar. Bruce is a Zimbabwean former professional footballer who played goalkeeper for the English club Liverpool and the Zimbabwean national team between 1981 and 1994.

He is remembered for his gymnastic-like athletic ability, unflappable confidence, eccentric and flamboyant style of play, and rushing ability, which has led pundits to compare him to modern-era sweeper-keepers.

In 2014, he was named goalkeeper coach for the Ottawa Fury FC of the North American Soccer League. He was named goalkeeper coach for the Matabeleland football team in March 2018.

37. Didier Zokora

He is a former professional footballer from Ivory Coast who played defensive midfield.  Zokora has played for the Ivory Coast national team for 14 years, beginning in 2000, and is the country’s most capped player.

He is now an assistant manager at AFAD Dj茅kanou. Zokora is the Ivory Coast’s most capped player, having appeared in 123 international matches. On 22 June 2008, he scored his only international goal in a 4-0 win over Botswana, propelling the Ivory Coast to the top of their group in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

During his 12 years with the national team, Zokora was instrumental in Les 脡l茅phants reaching their first two FIFA World Cup finals, in 2006 and 2010. Zokora announced his second retirement from the national team on September 8, 2014.

38. Vincent Enyeama

Enyeama is a former professional football goalkeeper from Nigeria. Despite his short stature as a goalkeeper, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest African goalkeepers of all time and of his generation.

Enyeama played for Ibom Stars, Enyimba, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Lille, and Maccabi Tel Aviv during his senior career, which lasted nearly 20 years.

From 2002 to October 2015, he was a member of the Nigeria national team, serving as captain from 2013 until his retirement from international football in 2015. He was Nigeria’s most-capped player with 101 caps until November 2021, when he was surpassed by Ahmed Musa.

39. Sulley Muntari

He is a former Ghanaian professional footballer who played in the midfield. He spent the majority of his career in Italy, where he played for clubs like Udinese, Internazionale, and Milan.

Muntari, described as a gifted footballer at a young age, began his youth career in Ghana with Liberty Professionals before joining Udinese, where he progressed through their academy to become a first-team player. In 2008, his performance in the Premier League and the FA Cup earned him a move to Inter Milan.

Muntari earned over 80 caps for the Ghana national team after becoming a full international in 2002, and he was selected for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three FIFA World Cups. He was also a member of Ghana’s U20 team, which finished second in both the African Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2001.

40. Kalidou Koulibaly

He is a Senegalese professional footballer of French origin who plays for Premier League club Chelsea and the Senegal national team.

He joined the Italian club Napoli in 2014, where he won the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia in 2020.

Because Koulibaly was born in France to Senegalese parents, he was eligible to play for both countries at the international level and began his career with the France national under-20 team. Later, in 2015, he made his senior debut for Senegal, and he was a member of the Senegal squad that competed in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

He was named to Senegal’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup the following year, and he helped his team to the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, defeating Egypt in the final.

41. Achraf Hakimi

By 袣懈褉懈谢谢

Africa has also produced some of the best athletes in the world. Achraf Hakimi, a talented Moroccan, is one of them. He is a professional footballer who currently plays for Ligue 1 club 麻豆APP Saint-Germain as well as the Moroccan national team.

He is primarily a right-back, but he can also play left-back and winger. Hakimi, who was born in Spain to Moroccan parents, was capped by Morocco at the under-20 level before making his senior international debut in 2016 at the age of 17.

He was named to Morocco’s squads for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Hakimi is a quick, dynamic, and powerful right-sided attacking full-back or wing-back who is tactically and technically adept and capable of playing long accurate passes from the defense.  

42. Hakim Ziyech

He is a professional footballer who plays for the Premier League club Chelsea and the Moroccan national team as an attacking midfielder or winger.  Ziyech was given the nickname “The Wizard” by fans of his former club Ajax.

He was originally eligible to play for either the Netherlands or Morocco at the international level, and he represented Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Ziyech is known for his finishing, dribbling, long passes, technique, and free-kick ability. He was named one of the 20 best players in the UEFA Champions League for the 2018-19 season 2019. He was ranked 29th in The Guardian’s list of “The 100 best footballers in the world” at the end of the same year.

43. Joseph Yobo

He is a former Nigerian professional footballer who played center back. He was Nigeria’s record appearance holder and captain of the Nigerian national team until his international retirement in June 2014.

The Nigeria Football Federation appointed him as assistant coach of the Super Eagles in February 2020. Yobo is a former Nigeria international who has 101 caps and has played in three FIFA World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Yobo made his senior international debut against Zambia in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier on March 24, 2001, after playing in Nigeria’s run to the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship quarter-finals. He appeared in all six of the team’s games during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations and was included in the squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

44. Alex Song

Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong, better known as Alex Song, is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a central or defensive midfielder for Djiboutian club Arta/Solar7. He is also capable of playing as a central defender.

Song began his career as a utility player on the outskirts of the first team before quickly becoming an integral part of Arsenal’s starting 11 during the 2008-09 preseason, leading to a 鈧�15 million transfer to Barcelona in 2012.

Song was a member of Cameroon’s national team at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. He was selected for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and was the only Cameroonian named to the Tournament Team. Song also has a French passport. He is the nephew of Rigobert Song, a former footballer.

45. Marc-Vivien Fo茅

Marc-Vivien Fo茅 was a Cameroonian professional footballer who played for both club and country as a defensive midfielder.

Fo茅 began his professional career with Canon Yaound茅 before moving on to Lens, West Ham United, Lyon, and Manchester City in Ligue 1 and the Premier League. Fo茅 died unexpectedly during an international match for Cameroon on June 26, 2003, shocking the football community worldwide. The cause of death was later determined to be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He had 62 caps for his country and scored 8 goals.

Manchester City retired his shirt number 23 after he was posthumously awarded the Commander of the National Order of Valour.

46. Jordan Ayew

This is a new talent from Ghana who is flourishing in Crystal Place. Ayew is one of the players who has led Ghana to success in a variety of competitions. Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers are examples of these.

His talent has seen him perform well in the English Premier League for several years. He is the son of former Ghana captain Abedi Pele, as well as the brother of teammates Andr茅 and Ibrahim Ayew.

He began his career with Lyon Duch猫re before joining the Marseille academy in 2006. Ayew made his Ghana national team debut in 2010 and has since earned over 80 caps. He has appeared in two FIFA World Cups (2014 and 2022), as well as five Africa Cup of Nations (2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021), where he helped his country finish second in 2015.

47. Thomas Partey

By 袗薪薪邪

Thomas Partey, one of the most commanding EPL midfielders we have right now, cannot afford to be left out. Since joining Arsenal from Atletico Madrid, the player has had a successful career. Partey is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arsenal in the Premier League and for the Ghana national team.

Partey began his professional career in 2013 at Spanish club Atl茅tico Madrid, going on loan to Mallorca and Almera before returning to Atl茅tico in 2015, where he won the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2018. He joined Arsenal in 2020, becoming the most expensive Ghanaian player in history.

Partey, a Ghanaian international, has played in three Africa Cup of Nations (2017, 2019, and 2021) and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In 2018, he was named to the CAF Team of the Year, and in 2018 and 2019, he was named Ghana Player of the Year.

48. Kelechi Iheanacho

Kelechi Promise Iheanacho is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Leicester City in the Premier League and for the Nigeria national team.

During the 2015-16 season, Iheanacho made his senior debut for Manchester City. He joined Leicester City in 2017 for a reported fee of 拢25 million.

Iheanacho was part of the Nigeria squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the Nigeria U-20 team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2015 and went on to play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Because of his success in a difficult league, he is regarded as one of the best African soccer players of all time.

49. Naby Keita

By Werner100359

He is a Guinean professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Liverpool as well as the Guinea national team.
He then joined RB Leipzig in 2016. Where he was named to the Bundesliga team of the year in his first season and the UEFA Europa League squad of the year in his second. Keita agreed to join Liverpool in 2017 and moved a year later, winning the UEFA Champions League in his first season and the FIFA Club World Cup and Premier League the following year.

In 2012, Keta made his senior international debut for Guinea. He has over 40 caps and has represented his country at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, 2019, and 2021.

50. Joel Matip

He is a Cameroonian professional footballer of German origin who plays as a center-back for Premier League club Liverpool. Matip is known for his ability to dribble up the pitch in order to create momentum and was once regarded as one of the best defenders in the world in his prime.

Before joining Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016, he made 258 competitive appearances and scored 23 goals. He won the UEFA Champions League in 2019, starting in the final. In 2019, he won the UEFA Super Cup, and in 2020, he won the Premier League, Liverpool’s first league title in thirty years.

Matip, who was born and raised in Germany, played for Cameroon at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cups in 2010 and 2014 before retiring from international football in 2015.

51. Wilfred Ndidi

Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Leicester City as well as the Nigeria national team. Ndidi is well-known for his defensive abilities. Nigeria named him to their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

He was named to Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia in May 2018. He was named to Nigeria’s 2019 African Cup of Nations squad and appeared in the team’s opening match against Burundi.

Ndidi was named to Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen on December 25, 2021. After the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 Group Stage, Conf茅d茅ration Africaine de Football, on January 22, 2022, (CAF) shortlisted Ndidi as the group stage’s best team.

52. Rigobert Song

Rigobert Song, an icon of Cameroonian football, is the Indomitable Lions’ most-capped player of all time, having worn the national team jersey 137 times in 17 years.

Song participated in eight AFCON tournaments, winning two, and is one of only two players to be sent off in two World Cups, the other being Zinedine Zidane.

53. Daniel Amartey

Amartey, a solid defender for an English club, Leceister City, couldn’t be left off our list. Amartey made his Ghana national under-20 football team debut against Nigeria in May 2012.

He was also chosen to play in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but Djurgrden preferred to keep him in Sweden because the tournament conflicted with the 2013 Allsvenskan season.

Amartey played in all of Ghana’s group matches at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Black Stars finished runners-up. He appeared in six matches at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, playing 90 minutes in each of them to help Ghana finish fourth.

His performances earned him a spot on the CAF Tournament Team. Amartey competed in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where the Ghana national team was eliminated in the first round.

54. Alex Iwobi

By 袗薪褌芯薪

He is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays for Premier League club Everton as well as the Nigeria national team.

Iwobi began his career at Arsenal, where he appeared in 149 games and scored 15 goals, winning the FA Cup in 2017 and scoring in the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final.  

Iwobi played for England up to the under-18 level. He made his senior international debut for Nigeria in October 2015, and he was a member of their squads at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing third in the latter. One of Africa’s greatest soccer players of all time.

55. Michael Olunga

As we come to the end of our list of the best 55 African soccer players of all time, we take a look at the blessed academically and athletically gifted footballer goal machine. Michael Olunga is an engineer and a footballer.

He hails from Kenya, where he has attempted to lead the Kenya national team in various competitions despite failing to qualify. Michael Olunga earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in geospatial engineering from the Technical University of Kenya. As a result, he is affectionately referred to as “The Engineer” by Kenyan football fans.

Currently, the striker is competing in the high ranks of Qatari football, the same league as, Cristiano Ronaldo. His ability to score goals has allowed him to play as a striker for the Qatari club Al-Duhail and to captain the Kenya national team. One of Africa’s greatest soccer players of all time.

Read 10 Most Popular Kenyan Football (Soccer) Players

Football is expanding rapidly, and more talented Africans are likely to emerge. Footballers are among the many talents available to this generation. The aforementioned have paved the way for others to show the world that Africa has numerous talents, as evidenced by African players playing in various leagues abroad. Others, such as Drogba and Eto’o, left legacies.