Top African footballers who never tasted AFCON glory

The African continent has produced numerous gifted footballers who have achieved great success at club and international levels.

Some of them like ex-Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o and his Ivorian counterpart Didier Drogba lifted one of the most coveted trophies in world football - the UEFA Champions League.

However, despite their successes at club level, many talented African players never attained continental success. 

SportPesa News takes a look at four stars who never had the chance of lifting the African Cup of Nations title (AFCON) despite having stellar careers at club level.

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Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba, who was part of the Ivory Coast golden generation that had the likes of Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Salomon Kalou, and Emmanuel Eboué, failed to lift the AFCON title.

He won the golden boot trophy during the 2012 edition but ended the tournament empty handed after Ivory Coast were outclassed in the final by Zambia. 

Drogba, who is among Chelsea FC’s legends, played an instrumental role in the club’s success in the first decade of the 21st century.

He scored a late header to help Chelsea produce a brilliant comeback and go on to sink Bayern Munich at the final of the 2011/2012 UEFA Champions League. 

Some of the other notable trophies that Drogba won at club level in his career include four FA Cup and English Premier League titles.  

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McDonald Mariga

McDonald Mariga, one of Kenya’s biggest names to have ever played professional football abroad, never had an opportunity to feature in the AFCON tournament since Kenya did not qualify when he was at his peak.

Although Mariga received his first national team call up in 2003, he did not make it to the squad which graced the 2004 AFCON edition.

Moreover, when Harambee Stars qualified again for the AFCON in 2019, Mariga had already hung his football boots, thus he retired without donning the Kenyan colors at the championship.

Some of the clubs that Victor Wanyama’s elder brother played for at both domestic and international levels include Tusker FC, Inter Milan, Parma, and Real Sociedad.

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In addition, he was also on the verge of joining Manchester City but the move collapsed at the final stages due to work permit-related issues.

Mariga became the first Kenyan to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy during the 2009/2010 season with Inter Milan under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho. 

Apart from the UEFA Champions League success, Mariga who ventured into politics after his retirement, also won Serie A, Coppa Italia and FIFA Club World Cup titles. 

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Michael Essien 

Michael Essien is without doubt one of the best defensive midfielders to have ever originated from the African continent.

The retired Ghanaian player won almost everything at club level with London-based side Chelsea FC. 

Essien was part of the Blues squad which lifted three FA Cup titles in 2007, 2009 and 2010 as well as two English Premier League trophies (2006 and 2010). 

However, the player who made his maiden senior appearance for the Black Stars in 2002, never laid his hands on the AFCON trophy.

The only time he got closer to achieving the AFCON dream was in 2010 when Ghana were narrowly beaten 1 - 0 in the final by the record champions the Pharaohs of Egypt. 

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Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor was also not lucky to bag the AFCON title in his magnificent football career. 

Adebayor, who is among the most underrated forwards of his generation, only managed to help Togo reach the quarterfinals stage once (2013). 

However despite AFCON heart breaks, Adebayor guided his country qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament - Togo’s first ever appearance. 

Some of the clubs that the powerful striker played for include Arsenal, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City.

Adebayor also had spells with French side Metz, Kayserispor, Crystal Palace, AS Monaco and Togolese club AC Semassi FC. 

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