African footballers have played important roles in the sport’s history, displaying incredible skills and being key players for some of Europe’s biggest clubs, as well as winning important titles with their national teams.
Today Sport opera would bring you the top 5 most popular footballers in africa coupled with some of their achievements.
George Weah
George Manneh Oppong Weah, born October 1, 1966, is a Liberian politician and former professional footballer who has been the country’s 25th President since 2018.
Prior to being elected president, Weah was a senator from Montserrado County. In his prolific 18-year professional career, which ended in 2003, he was widely regarded as one of the world’s best football players, playing as a striker.
Weah spent 14 years playing for clubs in France, Italy, and England after beginning his career in his home country of Liberia. Arsène Wenger brought him to Europe for the first time in 1988, signing him for Monaco.
Weah joined Paris Saint-Germain in 1992, where he won Ligue 1 in 1994 and was the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League in 1994–95.
In 1995, he joined AC Milan, where he spent four successful seasons, winning Serie A twice.
Samuel Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o Fils, born March 10, 1981, is a Cameroonian football administrato, former player and one of the most popular footballers in africa who became the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation beginning December 11, 2021.
Eto’o rose to prominence during the 2000 African Cup of Nations, scoring four goals, including a game-winning goal in the Indomitable Lions’ gold-medal victory over Nigeria.
Eto’o rose to prominence during the 2000 African Cup of Nations, scoring four goals, including a game-winning goal in the Indomitable Lions’ gold-medal victory over Nigeria. His impressive play continued at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where Cameroon defeated Spain to win the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
He also won the UCL as well as the FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Milan in 2010. He made both the UEFA and FIFA Teams of the Year twice, and he finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2005.
He has a collection of individual awards to his name and has played for several top clubs.
Mohamed Salah
Mo Salah is a professional Egyptian footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team.
He is known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed and is regarded as one of the best players in the world.
Salah began his senior career in 2010 with Al Mokawloon before moving on to Basel in 2012, where he won two Swiss Super League titles.
Salah joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £11 million in 2014, but limited playing time led to loan deals with Fiorentina and Roma, who later signed him permanently for €15 million.
Salah became the most expensive Egyptian player of all time when he signed for Liverpool for £36.9 million in 2017, setting a then-club record for an association football transfer.
Sadio Mane
Mane’s arrival at Liverpool in 2016 was transformative for Jurgen Klopp’s side, as he brought pace and dynamism to a team that desperately needed it.
During his first two seasons with the Reds, he was hampered by injuries and suspensions, but as of this writing, his goal total speaks for itself, with Mane proving to be a big-game player for the Reds.
He won the Champions League and the Golden Boot last season, as well as reaching the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations finals with Senegal.
Mane was an Austrian champion with Red Bull Salzburg before moving to England, and he also scored 21 league goals in two seasons with Southampton, including the Premier League’s fastest ever hat-trick — three goals in under three minutes against Aston Villa in May 2015.
Jay-Jay Okocha
Azuka, Augustine Jay Jay Okocha born 14 August 1973 is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Older Premier League fans will always remember his legendary period with Bolton Wanderers between 2002 and 2006.
Okocha was a sensation in England, and he also shone for Paris Saint-Germain, Fenerbahce, Eintracht Frankfurt, Qatar SC, and Borussia Neunkirchen.
Okocha, 47, was a joy to watch live, and his unique, skill-obsessed playing style has resulted in one of the best highlight reels of any footballer.
Wrap up
Here you got our ranking of the top most popular footballers in Africa.
African talent has long been overlooked, yet one cannot dispute that there is and has been a plethora of players from the continent who have made their mark on the sport.
Many exceptional players have come from Europe, but Africa has also produced some truly mouth-watering moments in the game.
