African Footballer of the Year

The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African footballer each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 1992.

Victor Osimhen is the latest winner, receiving the award in 2023

Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Touré have won the award the most times (4 wins each), Two-time winner Didier Drogba is the player with the most runner-up appearances (4), most third place finishes (3), and most times in the top three (9). The France-born Frédéric Kanouté, Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are the only European-born players to win the award (both Kanouté and Aubameyang initially featured for France's U21 squad before going on to represent Mali and Gabon, respectively).[1][2] The winner of the 2023 edition is Victor Osimhen.

History

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An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine. The changes resulted in parallel Golden Ball awards given out to Abedi Pele and George Weah in 1993[3] and 1994[4] by the magazine, although the CAF sponsored awards for those years were won respectively by Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amuneke, as well as two awards given to Abedi Pele in 1992.[5] France Football discontinued the election from 1995 after the European Ballon d'Or – also awarded by the magazine – had been opened to all players in the European leagues.[6] In 1991 the magazine Afrique Football installed an award. It was discontinued in 2003.[5]

In 2023, Algerian footballer Riyad Mahrez was not chosen as a finalist for the award.[7] Mahrez's absence was perceived as a snub by media and the Algerian football community.[8][9] Algerian manager Abdelhak Benchikha, nominated for Best African Coach, said he would not attend the CAF awards ceremony in solidarity with Mahrez, Algerian club USM Alger, and Algerian footballer Zinedine Belaid.[10] Walid Sadi, the president of the Algerian Football Federation, also said that he would not attend the ceremony as a show of support for Mahrez.[11]

Winners

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France Football award (1970–1994)

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Salif Keita, the first player to win the award in 1970.
 
Mahmoud El Khatib was the first player from Egypt to win the award in 1983.
 
Roger Milla, two-time winner of the award given by France Football.
 
Abedi Pele, won the award three consecutive times from 1991-1993 and also won both France Football award and new CAF award in 1992.

The award by France Football magazine of non-European nationality, the award being given to George Weah that year. It had already been replaced by an official award given out by the Confederation of African Football since 1992.[12]

Year Rank Player Team Points
1970 1st   Salif Keïta   Saint-Étienne 54
2nd   Laurent Pokou   ASEC Abidjan 28
  Ali Abo Greisha   Ismaily
1971 1st   Ibrahim Sunday   Asante Kotoko 29
2nd   Robert Mensah   Asante Kotoko 15
3rd   François Ndoumbé   Canon Yaoundé 13
1972 1st   Chérif Souleymane   Hafia 21
2nd   Bwanga Tshimen   TP Mazembe 16
3rd   Petit Sory   Hafia 14
1973 1st   Bwanga Tshimen   TP Mazembe 49
2nd   Kazadi Mwamba   TP Mazembe 44
3rd   Laurent Pokou   ASEC Abidjan 41
1974 1st   Paul Moukila   CARA Brazzaville 57
2nd   Lobilo Boba   Vita Club 32
3rd   Hassan Shehata   Zamalek 28
1975 1st   Ahmed Faras   Mohammédia 28
2nd   Roger Milla   Tonnerre Yaoundé 24
  Mamadou Aliou Kéïta   Hafia
1976 1st   Roger Milla   Tonnerre Yaoundé 33
2nd   Papa Camara   Hafia 32
3rd   Ali Bencheikh   MC Alger 27
1977 1st   Tarak Dhiab   Espérance Tunis 45
2nd   Papa Camara   Hafia 33
3rd   Segun Odegbami   Shooting Stars 29
1978 1st   Karim Abdul Razak   Asante Kotoko 58
2nd   Ali Bencheikh   MC Alger 33
3rd   Thomas N'Kono   Canon Yaoundé 29
1979 1st   Thomas N'Kono   Canon Yaoundé 55
2nd   Adolf Armah   Hearts of Oak 23
3rd   Kerfalla Bangoura   Horoya 15
1980 1st   Jean Manga-Onguéné   Canon Yaoundé 64
2nd   Segun Odegbami   Shooting Stars 41
3rd   Théophile Abega   Canon Yaoundé 18
1981 1st   Lakhdar Belloumi   GC Mascara 78
2nd   Thomas N'Kono   Canon Yaoundé 54
3rd   Ali Fergani   JS Kabylie 26
1982 1st   Thomas N'Kono   Espanyol 83
2nd   Salah Assad   Mulhouse 54
3rd   Lakhdar Belloumi   GC Mascara 36
1983 1st   Mahmoud El Khatib   Al Ahly 98
2nd   Opoku Nti   Asante Kotoko 89
3rd   Rafiou Moutairou   OC Agaza 19
1984 1st   Théophile Abega   Toulouse 124
2nd   Joseph-Antoine Bell   Al Mokawloon Al Arab 65
  Ibrahim Youssef   Zamalek
1985 1st   Mohamed Timoumi   AS FAR 113
2nd   Rabah Madjer   Porto 45
3rd   Ibrahim Youssef   Zamalek 39
1986 1st   Ezzaki Badou   Mallorca 125
2nd   Aziz Bouderbala   Sion 88
3rd   Roger Milla   Montpellier 80
1987 1st   Rabah Madjer   Porto 130
2nd   Youssouf Falikou Fofana   Monaco 63
3rd   François Omam-Biyik   Laval 52
1988 1st   Kalusha Bwalya   Cercle Brugge 111
2nd   Roger Milla   Montpellier 68
3rd   Youssouf Falikou Fofana   Monaco 40
1989 1st   George Weah   Monaco 133
2nd   Joseph-Antoine Bell   Bordeaux 105
3rd   Kalusha Bwalya   PSV 49
1990 1st   Roger Milla   Saint-Pierroise 209
2nd   Tahar Chérif El-Ouazzani   Aydınspor 64
3rd   Rabah Madjer   Porto 60
  François Omam-Biyik   Rennes
1991 1st   Abedi Pele   Marseille 152
2nd   George Weah   Monaco 106
3rd   François Omam-Biyik   Cannes 52
1992 1st   Abedi Pele   Marseille 198
2nd   George Weah   Paris Saint-Germain 161
3rd   Tony Yeboah   Eintracht Frankfurt 64
1993 1st   Abedi Pele   Marseille 119
2nd   Tony Yeboah   Eintracht Frankfurt 117
3rd   Rashidi Yekini   Vitória de Setúbal 104
1994 1st   George Weah   Paris Saint-Germain 148
2nd   Emmanuel Amunike   Sporting CP 133
3rd   Daniel Amokachi   Everton 99

Afrique Football award (Etoile d'Or) (1991–2003)

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Year Rank Player Team Points
1991[13] 1st   Abedi Pele   Marseille 206
2nd   George Weah   Monaco 146
3rd   Nii Lamptey   Anderlecht 68
1992[14] 1st   Abedi Pele   Marseille 192
2nd   George Weah   Paris Saint-Germain 167
3rd   Alain Gouaméné   Raja CA 60
1993[15] 1st   Rashidi Yekini   Vitória de Setúbal 152
2nd   Abedi Pele   Marseille 118
3rd   Tony Yeboah   Eintracht Frankfurt 98
1994[16] 1st   Emmanuel Amunike   Sporting CP 178
2nd   George Weah   Paris Saint-Germain 114
3rd   Daniel Amokachi   Everton 97
1995 1st   George Weah   Milan
1996 1st   Nwankwo Kanu   Internazionale
1997 1st   Victor Ikpeba   Monaco
1998[17] 1st   Mustapha Hadji   Deportivo La Coruña
2nd   Jay-Jay Okocha   Paris Saint-Germain
3rd   Sunday Oliseh   Ajax
1999 1st   Nwankwo Kanu   Arsenal
2000 1st   Patrick M'Boma   Parma
2001 1st   El Hadji Diouf   Lens
2002[18] 1st   El Hadji Diouf   Liverpool 186
2nd   Papa Bouba Diop   Lens 64
3rd   Samuel Eto'o   Mallorca 39
2003[19] 1st   Samuel Eto'o   Mallorca 169
2nd   Didier Drogba   Marseille 68
3rd   Jay-Jay Okocha   Bolton Wanderers 51

CAF award (1992–present)

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George Weah won the award in 1995 (the same year he was named FIFA World Player of the Year and also received the Ballon d'Or)
 
Samuel Eto'o won the award four times.
 
Didier Drogba was the first Ivorian to win the award in 2006.
 
Yaya Touré won the award four consecutive times from 2011 to 2014.
 
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the first player from Gabon to win the award in 2015.
 
Riyad Mahrez won his first award in 2016.
 
Mohamed Salah won the award twice in a row, in 2017 and 2018.
Year Rank Player Team Points
1992 1st   Abedi Pele   Marseille
1993 1st   Rashidi Yekini   Vitória de Setúbal
1994 1st   Emmanuel Amunike   Sporting CP 48
2nd   George Weah   Paris Saint-Germain 44
  Rashidi Yekini   Olympiacos
1995 1st   George Weah   Milan
2nd   Emmanuel Amunike   Sporting CP
3rd   Daniel Amokachi   Everton
1996 1st   Nwankwo Kanu   Internazionale
2nd   George Weah   Milan
3rd   Daniel Amokachi   Beşiktaş
1997 1st   Victor Ikpeba   Monaco 56
2nd   Japhet N'Doram   Monaco 40
3rd   Taribo West   Internazionale 35
1998 1st   Mustapha Hadji   Deportivo La Coruña 76
2nd   Jay-Jay Okocha   Paris Saint-Germain 74
3rd   Sunday Oliseh   Ajax 58
1999 1st   Nwankwo Kanu   Arsenal 46
2nd   Samuel Kuffour   Bayern Munich 44
3rd   Ibrahima Bakayoko   Marseille 42
2000 1st   Patrick M'Boma   Parma 123
2nd   Lauren   Mallorca 36
3rd   Samuel Eto'o   Mallorca 29
2001 1st   El Hadji Diouf   Lens 93
2nd   Samuel Kuffour   Bayern Munich 66
3rd   Samuel Eto'o   Mallorca 34
2002 1st   El Hadji Diouf   Liverpool 93
2nd   Papa Bouba Diop   Lens 46
3rd   Ahmed Hossam Mido   Ajax 42
2003 1st   Samuel Eto'o   Mallorca
2nd   Didier Drogba   Marseille
3rd   Jay-Jay Okocha   Bolton Wanderers
2004 1st   Samuel Eto'o   Barcelona 116
2nd   Didier Drogba   Chelsea 90
3rd   Jay-Jay Okocha   Bolton Wanderers 68
2005 1st   Samuel Eto'o   Barcelona 108
2nd   Didier Drogba   Chelsea 106
3rd   Michael Essien   Chelsea 50
2006 1st   Didier Drogba   Chelsea 79
2nd   Samuel Eto'o   Barcelona 76
3rd   Michael Essien   Chelsea 36
2007 1st   Frédéric Kanouté   Sevilla
2nd   Michael Essien   Chelsea
3rd   Didier Drogba   Chelsea
2008 1st   Emmanuel Adebayor   Arsenal 74
2nd   Mohamed Abou Trika   Al Ahly 53
3rd   Michael Essien   Chelsea 36
2009 1st   Didier Drogba   Chelsea 92
2nd   Samuel Eto'o   Internazionale 69
3rd   Michael Essien   Chelsea 43
2010 1st   Samuel Eto'o   Internazionale
2nd   Asamoah Gyan   Sunderland
3rd   Didier Drogba   Chelsea
2011 1st   Yaya Touré   Manchester City
2nd   Seydou Keita   Barcelona
3rd   André Ayew   Marseille
2012 1st   Yaya Touré   Manchester City
2nd   Didier Drogba   Shanghai Shenhua
3rd   Alex Song   Barcelona
2013 1st   Yaya Touré   Manchester City 373
2nd   Mikel John Obi   Chelsea 265
3rd   Didier Drogba   Galatasaray 236
2014 1st   Yaya Touré   Manchester City 175
2nd   Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang   Borussia Dortmund 120
3rd   Vincent Enyeama   Lille 105
2015 1st   Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang   Borussia Dortmund 143
2nd   Yaya Touré   Manchester City 136
3rd   André Ayew   Swansea City 112
2016 1st   Riyad Mahrez   Leicester City 361
2nd   Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang   Borussia Dortmund 313
3rd   Sadio Mané   Liverpool 186
2017 1st   Mohamed Salah   Liverpool 625
2nd   Sadio Mané   Liverpool 507
3rd   Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang   Borussia Dortmund 311
2018 1st   Mohamed Salah   Liverpool 567
2nd   Sadio Mané   Liverpool 440
3rd   Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang   Arsenal 197
2019 1st   Sadio Mané   Liverpool 477
2nd   Mohamed Salah   Liverpool 325
3rd   Riyad Mahrez   Manchester City 267
2022 1st   Sadio Mané   Bayern Munich -
2nd   Mohamed Salah   Liverpool -
3rd   Édouard Mendy   Chelsea -
2023 1st   Victor Osimhen[20]   Napoli -
2nd   Achraf Hakimi   Paris Saint-Germain -
3rd   Mohamed Salah   Liverpool -

Multiple winners

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* Players in bold are currently active

Player Winner Runner-up Third place
  Samuel Eto'o 4 2 2
  Yaya Touré 4 1 0
  George Weah 3 4 0
  Abedi Pele 3 0 0
  Didier Drogba 2 4 3
  Roger Milla 2 2 1
  Mohamed Salah 2 2 1
  Sadio Mané 2 2 1
  Thomas N'Kono 2 1 1
  Nwankwo Kanu 2 0 0
  El Hadji Diouf 2 0 0

Awards won by nationality

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Nation Winners Runners-up Third places
  Cameroon 11 8 10
  Ghana 6 8 7
  Ivory Coast 6 7 6
  Nigeria 6 6 10
  Senegal 4 3 2
  Morocco 4 2 0
  Algeria 3 4 5
  Egypt 3 5 4
  Liberia 3 4 0
  Mali 2 1 0
  Guinea 1 3 2
  DR Congo 1 3 0
  Gabon 1 2 2
  Togo 1 0 1
  Zambia 1 0 1
  Congo 1 0 0
  Tunisia 1 0 0
  Chad 0 1 0

Awards won by club

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Club Winners Runners-up Third places Players
P. winners P. seconds P. thirds
  Liverpool 4 4 2 M. Salah (2), H. Diouf, S. Mané S. Mané (2), M. Salah (2) S. Mané, M. Salah
  Manchester City 4 1 1 Y. Touré (4) Y. Touré R. Mahrez
  Marseille 3 1 2 Abedi Pele (3) D. Drogba I. Bakayoko, A. Ayew
  Chelsea 2 4 6 D. Drogba (2) D. Drogba (2), M. Essien, M. J. Obi M. Essien (4), D. Drogba (2)
  Monaco 2 3 1 G. Weah, V. Ikpeba Y. Fofana, G. Weah, J. N'Doram Y. Fofana
  Barcelona 2 2 1 S. Eto'o (2) S. Eto'o, Se. Keita A. Song
  Asante Kotoko 2 2 K. Abdul Razak, I. Sunday R. Mensah, O. Nti
  Canon Yaoundé 2 1 3 J. Manga-Onguéné, T. N'Kono T. N'Kono T. Abega, F. Ndoumbé, T. N'Kono
  Mallorca 2 1 2 E. Badou, S. Eto'o Lauren S. Eto'o (2)
  Internazionale 2 1 1 S. Eto'o, N. Kanu S. Eto'o T. West
  Arsenal 2 1 E. Adebayor, N. Kanu P. E. Aubameyang
  Paris Saint-Germain 1 3 G. Weah G. Weah, A. Okocha, A. Hakimi
  Hafia 1 2 2 C. Souleymane P. Camara (2) P. Sory, M. A. Kéïta
  Borussia Dortmund 1 2 1 P. E. Aubameyang P. E. Aubameyang (2) P. E. Aubameyang
  Bayern Munich 1 2 S. Mané S. Kuffour (2)
  TP Mazembe 1 2 B. Tshimen B. Tshimen, K. Mwamba
  Porto 1 1 1 R. Madjer R. Madjer R. Madjer
  Al Ahly 1 1 0 M. El Khatib M. Abou Trika
  Tonnerre Yaoundé 1 1 R. Milla R. Milla
  Lens 1 1 E-H. Diouf P. B. Diop
  Milan 1 1 G. Weah G. Weah
  Sporting CP 1 1 E. Amunike E. Amunike
  GC Mascara 1 1 L. Belloumi L. Belloumi
  Cercle Brugge 1 K. Bwalya
  CARA Brazzaville 1 P. Moukila
  Leicester City 1 R. Mahrez
  Saint-Étienne 1 S. Keïta
  Toulouse 1 T. Abega
  Parma 1 P. M'Boma
  AS FAR 1 M. Timoumi
  SCC Mohammédia 1 A. Faras
  Vitória de Setúbal 1 R. Yekini
  JS Saint-Pierroise 1 R. Milla
  Deportivo La Coruña 1 M. Hadji
  Espanyol 1 T. N'Kono
  Sevilla 1 F. Kanouté
  ES Tunis 1 T. Dhiab
  Napoli 1 V. Osimhen
  MC Alger 1 1
  ASEC Mimosas 1 1
  Montpellier 1 1
  Eintracht Frankfurt 1 1
  Shooting Stars 1 1
  Shanghai Shenhua 1
  Vita Club 1
  Al Mokawloon Al Arab 1
  Sunderland 1
  Bordeaux 1
  FC Mulhouse 1
  Hearts of Oak 1
  FC Sion 1
  Aydınspor 1
  Zamalek 1 2
  Bolton Wanderers 2
  Everton 2
  Ajax 2
  JS Kabylie 1
  Ismaily 1
  Cannes 1
  Stade Lavallois 1
  Lille 1
  Rennes 1
  Olympiacos 1
  Horoya AC 1
  PSV Eindhoven 1
  OC Agaza 1
  Beşiktaş 1
  Galatasaray 1
  Swansea City 1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kanoute named Africa's best
  2. ^ "Furious Drogba Slams CAF Over Kanoute Award And Pulls Out". Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  3. ^ "African Player of the Year 1993". Rsssf.com. 5 January 2001. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  4. ^ "African Player of the Year 1994". Rsssf.com. 5 January 2001. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  5. ^ a b "African Player of the Year". rsssf.com. 1 January 2000. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  6. ^ "African Player of the Year". rsssf.com. 1 January 2000. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Riyad Mahrez non retenu pour le trophée du meilleur joueur de la CAF, une omission qui fait tache" [Riyad Mahrez not selected for the CAF Best Player Award, an omission that leaves a stain.]. www.goal.com (in French). 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Ballon d'or africain: Hakimi parmi les trois finalistes mais une absence va faire parler" [African Ballon d'Or: Hakimi among the three finalists, but one absence will be talked about.]. RMC SPORT (in French). Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Algérie : Mahrez absent du titre de meilleur joueur, la colère des Fennecs" [Algeria: Mahrez absent from the title of best player, the anger of the Desert Foxes.]. Onze Mondial (in French). 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Nominé pour les CAF Awards, il surprend, "Même si j'avais été invité, je n'y serais pas allé"" [Nominated for the CAF Awards, he surprises, "Even if I had been invited, I wouldn't have gone."] (in French). 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Algeria boycotts CAF Awards over 'unfair' withdrawal of Mahrez from final list". sportsbrief.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Football: All African Footballers of the Year - Complete list". Olympics.com. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  13. ^ "African Player of the Year 1991". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2001. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  14. ^ "African Player of the Year 1992". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  15. ^ "African Player of the Year 1993". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  16. ^ "African Player of the Year 1994". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  17. ^ "African Player of the Year 1998". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  18. ^ "African Player of the Year 2002". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  19. ^ "African Player of the Year 2003". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Victor Osimhen wins African player of the year award". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.