List of African best players of all time : No room for Mane; Can Salah match Eto’o?

African football has always been a goldmine of talent, producing icons who have left an indelible mark on the world's most prestigious stadiums. From the hallowed turf of the San Siro to the electric atmosphere of Anfield, these players have defined eras and inspired millions. 

However, selecting the ten greatest names in the continent's history is a daunting task that Livescorecz has bravely undertaken. Do you agree with this selection? Beyond overall greatness, we also delve into the statistical marvels of the ten greatest scorers in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a tournament that serves as the ultimate proving ground for African excellence.

The 10 best African players of all time

The journey begins with Essam El Hadary, the legendary Egyptian goalkeeper. Known as "The High Dam," he spent his prime at Al Ahly (1996–2008), making over 400 appearances and winning 8 Egyptian Premier League titles and 3 CAF Champions Leagues. For Egypt, he debuted in 1996, earning 159 caps. His greatest period came during the 2006–2010 AFCON hat-trick of titles, where he was named the best goalkeeper in all three editions. In 2018, he became the oldest player in World Cup history at age 45. 

Next is Mohamed Aboutrika, the soul of Al Ahly (2004–2014), who scored 167 goals in 263 games. Despite never playing in Europe, he won 5 CAF Champions Leagues. For the Pharaohs (2004–2013), he scored 38 goals in 100 caps, netting the winning goal in the 2008 AFCON final. At number eight, Jay-Jay Okocha mesmerized fans at Eintracht Frankfurt and Bolton Wanderers (124 appearances, 14 goals). He led Nigeria to the 1994 AFCON title and 1996 Olympic gold, earning 73 caps and scoring 14 goals between 1993 and 2006.

Ranking seventh, Yaya Toure was the engine of Barcelona’s 2009 sextuple and Manchester City’s rise. At City (2010–2018), he played 316 matches, scoring 79 goals and winning 3 Premier League titles. For Ivory Coast, he earned 101 caps and captained them to the 2015 AFCON title. 

Didier Drogba follows at six. A Chelsea deity (2004–2012, 2014–2015), he scored 164 goals in 381 games, winning 4 Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League. For the Elephants, he is the record scorer with 65 goals in 105 appearances. Mohamed Salah takes the fifth spot. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, he has scored over 200 goals, winning every major trophy. For Egypt, he has 58 goals in 101 caps, famously leading them to the 2018 World Cup.

At four, Abedi Pele dominated the early 90s, winning the 1993 Champions League with Marseille. He earned 67 caps for Ghana and won the 1982 AFCON. Roger Milla stands at three. Best known for his Montpellier days, he became a global icon for Cameroon, scoring 43 goals in 77 caps and leading them to the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals. George Weah, the only African Ballon d'Or winner (1995), shines at number two. He starred for PSG and AC Milan (114 games, 46 goals), winning 2 Serie A titles. 

Finally, Samuel Eto'o is the greatest. At Barcelona (2004–2009), he scored 130 goals in 199 games, winning 2 Champions Leagues before winning a third with Inter Milan. For Cameroon, he won 2 AFCONs and is their record scorer with 56 goals in 118 caps.

The 10 best African players of all time

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)

George Weah (Liberia)

Roger Milla (Cameroon)

Abedi Pele (Ghana)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria)

Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)

Essam El Hadary (Egypt)

The 10 greatest AFCON goalscorers in history

In the history of AFCON, Didier Drogba and Hossam Hassan both sit with 11 goals. Drogba participated in five tournaments (2006–2013), with his best year in 2012 (3 goals), though he never won the trophy. 

Hassan, an Egyptian icon, played in seven editions, winning three (1986, 1998, 2006) and scoring 11 goals in 21 games. Patrick Mboma also has 11 goals in just 17 games, winning the 2000 and 2002 titles for Cameroon. Above them, Hassan El-Shazly remains the most efficient, netting 12 goals in 8 matches for Egypt, including two hat-tricks across the 1963 and 1970 tournaments.

Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s "Goals Father," scored 13 times in 20 matches across four tournaments, winning the 1994 edition as the top scorer. Second place belongs to the legendary Laurent Pokou of Ivory Coast, who scored 14 goals in just two tournaments (1968, 1970), including a record 5-goal haul in a single match. 

Finally, Samuel Eto’o stands alone at the summit. He featured in six tournaments (2000–2010), scoring a record 18 goals in 29 matches. His best years were 2006 and 2008, where he won consecutive Golden Boots, and he secured the trophy in 2000 and 2002.

The 10 greatest AFCON goalscorers in history

Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – 18 goals

Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast) – 14 goals

Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria) – 13 goals

Hassan El-Shazly (Egypt) – 12 goals

Patrick Mboma (Cameroon) – 11 goals

Hossam Hassan (Egypt) – 11 goals

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) – 11 goals

Livescorecz.net has provided a definitive look at these legends who have shaped the game. If you want to stay updated with the latest football news, unique perspectives, and deep analytical insights with valuable data before every match, visit our homepage at Livescorecz.net. Discover more about the Best African Players Of All Time and the stars of tomorrow right here.