The Pride of Africa

Africa, the “Motherland”.  Home to the world’s most sought after commodities; gold, silver, diamonds and oil. But Africa is also home to some of the brightest and most talented football stars, past and present whom have set the European and world’s stages alight.

This bright and beautiful continent is home to football stars who have been trailblazers, stars and legends for both club and country. Africa may be synonymous with exporting its riches, however African football players have also paved the way in Europe’s best stages proving that Africa is not only awash with valuable commodities but the continent is also rich in football talent.

Here are some of the sons of Africa, whom have been proudly putting the beautiful continent of Africa on the map:

Mohamed Salah – Egypt & Liverpool

Mo Salah in action for Liverpoool

A player for Liverpool and Egypt, Salah has been a revelation for Jurgen Klopps “Reds”. Having scored an impressive 32 goals in his second season in the EPL, Salah’s goal scoring exploits have earned him the PFA Player of the Year award for the 2017/18 season as well as bagging the PFA Players' Player of the Year, the Football Writers' Player of the Year, and the PFA Fans' Player of the Year awards for that season. Salah was also named in the 2017–18 PFA Team of the Year and also became the first player to win three Premier League Player of the Month awards in the same season.

For his native Egypt, Salah has represented at youth level, winning a bronze medal in the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, and participated in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was awarded the CAF Most Promising African Talent of the Year in 2012. Making his debut with the senior national team in 2011, he helped Egypt reach the final of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, and became the top scorer during CAF qualification to help the team qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1990.

Mo Salah with the 2017/18 PFA Player of the Year award

Benni McCarthy – South Africa (Retired); Cape Town City Coach.

Benni with the Champions League trophy

Regarded as one of the best legends of his generation and a true South African football gem, Benni McCarthy is a beloved South African legend. Benni was part of the FC Porto team that won the treble under the “Special One”, Jose Mourihno and is the only South African, to date, to ever win the Uefa Champions League. Benni is also still Bafana Bafana’s all time goal scorer with 31 goals.

Throughout his exploits in Europe, McCarthy amassed impressive honours such as the Golden Boot in the 2003-04 Portuguese League with 20 goals in 23 matches. McCarthy has also played in the English Premier League for Blackburn Rovers, Middlesborough and West Ham. McCarthy returned to his native South Africa in 2012, and played for Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates scoring 10 goals and guiding the team to a PSL title.  

McCarthy is now a coach in the Premier Soccer League, coaching Cape Town City since 2017 and is also a football analyst on Supersport.

Benni as Cape Town City Coach

Didier Drogba – Phoenix Rising & Ivory Coast (Retired)

Didier with the Champions League trophy 

A fan favourite among Chelsea FC fans, Drogba is still Chelsea’s fourth highest goal scorer of all time. With the Blues, Drogba has won the FA Cup and Champions League. His impressive goal-scoring exploits have also earned him a spot at the 2007 FIFA World XI (World Eleven) and in 2012 became the first African to score 100 Premier League goals.

For his native country, the Ivory Coast, Drogba was the captain from 2006 until his retirement in 2014 and is all time top scorer (with 65 goals). Throughout his tenure he has been named African Footballer of the Year twice, winning the accolade in 2006 and 2009.

Currently, Drogba is a player–owner for Phoenix Rising, in the US Soccer second tier, a team he joined in 2017.

 

Drogba as a player/owner at Phoenix Rising FC

George Weah –  Arsenal &Liberia (Retired); President of Liberia

George Weah, 1995 FIFA Ballon d'Or winner

George Weah spent 14 years playing for clubs in France, Italy, and England, more prolific at Arsenal under Arsène Wenger. Under his belt Weah has been the top scorer  at the 1994-95 Champions League whilst playing for Paris Saint-Germain, Weah remains the only African to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 1995. Weah also plied his trade in the Premier League playing for Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. At international level, Weah represented Liberia at the African Cup of Nations on two occasions, winning 60 caps and scoring 22 goals for his country. Weah is three-time African Player of the Year recipient (1989, 1994 and 1995) and in 1996 he was named the African Player of the Century.

Weah is currently the President of his native Liberia having won the elections in January this year.

Weah as the President of Liberia

Kanu – Arsenal and Nigeria (Retired)

Kanu at Arsenal

Kanu played for Nigerian team Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, and English clubs Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth. During his football exploits, Kanu has won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals and two African Player of the Year awards. He is one of few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal and is regarded as one of the best players in African football history.

Internationally, Kanu was a member of the Nigerian national team from 1994 to 2010. With the Super Eagles, Kanu has won the 1993 FIFA U17 tournament as well as an Olympic Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympics. He also was also part of the Nigerian squad for the 1998, 2002 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. 

Kanu retired from international football in 2010. Currently, he is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and African brand ambassador for digital TV operator StarTimes.

Kanu now

Samuel Et’o – Barcelona, Qatar SC & Cameroon (Retired)

Et'o at a press conference

Et’o is the most decorated African player of all time, having won the African Player of the Year award a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010. He came third for FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005, and was twice named in the FIFA World XI: in 2005 and 2006.

During his spell in Europe, Et’o has scored over 100 goals for Barcelona and has won the Champions League and La Liga and two continental trebles with Barca and Inter Milan. He is the second player in history to score in two UEFA Champions League finals and the fourth player, to have won the trophy two years in a row with different teams.

At an international level the Cameroonian has participated in four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations (being champion twice) and is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with 18 goals. He is also Cameroon's all-time leading scorer and third most capped player, with 56 goals from 118 caps. He announced his retirement from international football on 2014 and in 2015, received the Golden Foot Award.

Samuel Et'o