The Greatest African Soccer Players of All Time
Those who engaged in soccer betting back then knew where to place their bets with these players on the team sheet.
Africa is a football hub, from the days of the great Roger Milla of Cameroon, Abedi Pele of Ghana, and Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, just to give you a sneak peak of the mantle the African continent is made of. At a time when footballers are gauged according to their achievements mostly in Europe or on the international scene, it would be unfair to some gifted players who may never have made it to foreign leagues.
It will always be a controversial matter, but this is a list of Africa’s greatest soccer players of all time. Those who engaged in soccer betting back then knew where to place their bets with these players on the team sheet.
#1. Samuel Eto’o Fils
He went to Europe, and he conquered the world. The former Cameroon international played for top European outfits like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Chelsea, but it is in the Catalan capital where he did it all. He is a 3-time UEFA Champions League winner, and a prolific goal scorer for Spanish giants Barcelona and the Indomitable Lions.
#2. George Opong Weah
The current Liberian President is the only African to win the coveted World Footballer of the Year award, now known as the Ballon d’Or. That should tell it all.
#3. Roger Milla
He was to Cameroon what Cristiano Ronaldo is to Portugal. A prolific talisman who gave it all for his country, representing his nation at the FIFA World Cup aged 42.
#4. Abedi Pele
The Ghanaians had a reliable player in Abedi Pele. The former Marseille man has passed the mantle to his two sons Andrew and Jordan who are now fixtures in the Black Stars.
#5. Didier Drogba
He just could not miss to make the final list. The recently retired Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward was as lethal as they get, winning the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award twice in a row. Always a favorite pick for the player to score with Betway.
#6. Kalusha Bwalya
Scoring 100 international goals for the Zambian National team is extra ordinary. Bwalya was Zambia’s favorite son at a time when Zambian football was on the rise, before a fatal plane crash took away the entire playing unit. Bwalya was not on the plane.
#7. Jay Jay Okocha
He is likened to Brazil’s Ronaldinho due to his amazing footballing skills. Okocha played in the EPL and the French Ligue One, and represented his Nigerian team in several AFCON and FIFA World Cup tournaments.
#8. Kanu Nwankwo
He announced himself into the global scene with remarkable performances with the Nigerian team in the Olympics. He would go on to become one of the most lethal forwards in an Arsenal shirt.
#9. Hossam Hassan
The legendary Egyptian did not play in Europe, but his exploits in the African Champions League did earn him a place in the final list. The bald forward played into his late thirties for the Pharaohs, showing just how important he was to the setup.
#10. Yaya Toure
The combative Ivory Coast midfielder is the youngest in the list, but definitely not the least in terms of footballing prowess. He turned out for Barcelona before switching to play in England for Manchester City. He helped the Citizens to three EPL titles before retiring in the middle of 2019.
Other notable mentions are Algeria’s Rabah Madjeh, Cameroon’s Rigobert Song, Lucas Radebe of South Africa, Tony Yeboah of Ghana, and the current crop of Mo Salah of Egypt, Riyad Mahrez of Algeria, and Sadio Mane of Senegal. The Liverpool duo ranks among the likeliest scorers with Betway week in, week out.
