Five Legendary Players Who Never Won Afcon
Introduction
While the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) may present opportunities for some players, several footballing icons remain without this prestigious trophy. BBC Sport Africa highlights five renowned athletes who never achieved glory in this continental competition.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Caption: Mohamed Salah has twice been a runner-up at Afcon, most recently in 2021 against Senegal.
At 33 years old, the future remains uncertain for Egypt’s captain, Mohamed Salah. Despite being the national team’s all-time leading scorer, he has faced a challenging journey in Afcon. The Pharaohs hold the record for most tournament titles (seven), but their last victory was in 2010, coinciding with Salah’s debut in 2011.
Salah’s Afcon journey began with disappointment, as Egypt failed to qualify from 2012 to 2015. His first significant experience was in 2017, where the team lost in the final to Cameroon. He faced more heartbreak in the 2019 edition and was not part of the squad when Egypt was eliminated in the 2023 tournament due to injury.
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Caption: Didier Drogba missed a penalty in regulation time during the 2012 Afcon final against Zambia.
Despite his prowess at Chelsea, scoring crucial goals in major finals, Didier Drogba could not replicate that success with the Ivory Coast. He captained the national team to the Afcon finals on two occasions, yet struggles with penalties marked his appearances.
In 2006, he was unable to convert his penalty against Egypt, leading to a 4-2 loss. Drogba captained the Ivorians again in 2012, where they were surprised by Zambia after he missed another critical spot-kick. His international career ended without an Afcon title, despite his significant contributions to the game.
George Weah (Liberia)
Caption: After retiring from football, George Weah served as Liberia’s President from 2018 to 2024.
George Weah stands out in African football history as the only player from the continent to have won the Ballon d’Or (1995). Despite this accolade, his international career with Liberia was marked by missed opportunities.
Liberia’s participation in Afcon was limited to just two tournaments during Weah’s era, and both times the national squad failed to progress past the group stage. He managed one goal in his second Afcon appearance in 2002, but that was not enough to secure advancement.
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
Caption: Kanu collected his 1999 African Footballer of the Year award at Afcon 2000 but suffered heartbreak in the final.
Nwankwo Kanu enjoyed an illustrious club career, achieving success with Ajax, Inter Milan, and Arsenal. However, he could not claim an Afcon title despite being part of significant national squad achievements, including the Under-17 World Cup and Olympic gold.
His closest bid for the Afcon championship was in 2000 when Nigeria lost to Cameroon on penalties after he saw his own attempt saved. Subsequent tournaments brought further heartbreak for Kanu, with the team unable to reach another final during his international tenure.
Michael Essien (Ghana)
Caption: Michael Essien served as captain for Ghana in 2008 when the team fell in the semi-finals on home soil.
Michael Essien’s achievements with Chelsea were remarkable, yet he too could not bring an Afcon title to Ghana. Since their last championship in 1982, multiple generations have failed to lift the trophy. Essien was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals in 2002 and later hosted the tournament in 2008 but were defeated in the semi-finals.
Injuries disrupted his potential contributions, including missing the final in 2010. Essien retired with significant club accolades but never realized the dream of winning Afcon.
Conclusion
These five players exemplify talent and dedication yet contend with the bittersweet reality of never having won the Africa Cup of Nations. Their legacies remain significant in the annals of African football, even absent the coveted trophy.
