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.

Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Touré have won the award the most times (four wins each). Two-time winner Didier Drogba is the player with the most runner-up appearances (four), most third place finishes (third), and most appearances in the top three (nine). 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 2024 edition was Ademola Lookman.

History

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]

Winners

France Football award (1970–1994)

Salif Keita, the first player to win the award in 1970.

Roger Milla, two-time winner of the award given by *France Football*.

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 It had already been replaced by an official award given out by the Confederation of African Football since 1992.^[7]

Year	Rank	Player	Team	Points
1970	1st	Salif Keïta	Saint-Étienne	54
	2nd	Laurent Pokou	ASEC Abidjan	28
	3rd	Ali Abo Greisha	Ismaily	28

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
	2nd	Mamadou Aliou Kéïta	Hafia	24

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
	2nd	Ibrahim Youssef	Zamalek	65

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
	3rd	François Omam-Biyik	Rennes	60

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)

Year	Rank	Player	Team	Points
1991^[8]	1st	Abedi Pele	Marseille	206
	2nd	George Weah	Monaco	146
	3rd	Nii Lamptey	Anderlecht	68

1992^[9]	1st	Abedi Pele	Marseille	192
	2nd	George Weah	Paris Saint-Germain	167
	3rd	Alain Gouaméné	Raja CA	60

1993^[10]	1st	Rashidi Yekini	Vitória de Setúbal	152
	2nd	Abedi Pele	Marseille	118
	3rd	Tony Yeboah	Eintracht Frankfurt	98

1994^[11]	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^[12]	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^[13]	1st	El Hadji Diouf	Liverpool	186
	2nd	Papa Bouba Diop	Lens	64
	3rd	Samuel Eto'o	Mallorca	39

2003^[14]	1st	Samuel Eto'o	Mallorca	169
	2nd	Didier Drogba	Marseille	68
	3rd	Jay-Jay Okocha	Bolton Wanderers	51

CAF award (1992–present)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the first player from Gabon to win the award in 2015.

Riyad Mahrez won his first award in 2016.

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
	2nd	Rashidi Yekini	Olympiacos	44

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^[15]	Napoli	–
	2nd	Achraf Hakimi	Paris Saint-Germain	–
	3rd	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	–
2024	1st	Ademola Lookman^[16]	Atalanta	–
	2nd	Achraf Hakimi	Paris Saint-Germain	–
	3rd	Serhou Guirassy	Borussia Dortmund	–

Multiple winners

^{* 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

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

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Third places	Players
Club	Winners	Runners-up	Third places	Winners	Runner-ups	Third places
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	4	–	G. Weah	G. Weah, A. Okocha, A. Hakimi (2)
Hafia	1	2	2	C. Souleymane	P. Camara (2)	P. Sory, M. A. Kéïta
Borussia Dortmund	1	2	2	P. E. Aubameyang	P. E. Aubameyang (2)	P. E. Aubameyang, S. Guirassy
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
Atalanta	1	–	–	A. Lookman
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

References

^ Kanoute named Africa's best
^ "Furious Drogba Slams CAF Over Kanoute Award And Pulls Out". Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
^ "African Player of the Year 1993". Rsssf.com. 5 January 2001. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
^ "African Player of the Year 1994". Rsssf.com. 5 January 2001. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
^ ^a ^b "African Player of the Year". rsssf.com. 1 January 2000. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
^ "African Player of the Year". rsssf.com. 1 January 2000. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
^ "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.
^ "African Player of the Year 1991". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2001. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "African Player of the Year 1992". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "African Player of the Year 1993". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "African Player of the Year 1994". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "African Player of the Year 1998". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "African Player of the Year 2002". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "African Player of the Year 2003". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "Victor Osimhen wins African player of the year award". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
^ "Lookman, Banda and Williams are big winners at 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco". CAF Online. Retrieved 16 December 2024.

[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.

[:0-5] "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] "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.

[8] "African Player of the Year 1991". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2001. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[9] "African Player of the Year 1992". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[10] "African Player of the Year 1993". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[11] "African Player of the Year 1994". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[12] "African Player of the Year 1998". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[13] "African Player of the Year 2002". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[14] "African Player of the Year 2003". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[15] "Victor Osimhen wins African player of the year award". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.

[16] "Lookman, Banda and Williams are big winners at 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco". CAF Online. Retrieved 16 December 2024.

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v t e African Footballer of the Year
France Football award	1970: Keïta 1971: Sunday 1972: Souleymane 1973: Bwanga 1974: Moukila 1975: Faras 1976: Milla 1977: Dhiab 1978: Razak 1979: N'Kono 1980: Manga-Onguéné 1981: Belloumi 1982: N'Kono 1983: El Khatib 1984: Abega 1985: Timoumi 1986: Zaki 1987: Madjer 1988: Bwalya 1989: Weah 1990: Milla 1991: Pele 1992: Pele 1993: Pele 1994: Weah
CAF award	1992: Pele 1993: Yekini 1994: Amunike 1995: Weah 1996: Kanu 1997: Ikpeba 1998: Hadji 1999: Kanu 2000: M'Boma 2001: Diouf 2002: Diouf 2003: Eto'o 2004: Eto'o 2005: Eto'o 2006: Drogba 2007: Kanouté 2008: Adebayor 2009: Drogba 2010: Eto'o 2011: Touré 2012: Touré 2013: Touré 2014: Touré 2015: Aubameyang 2016: Mahrez 2017: Salah 2018: Salah 2019: Mané 2020–21: not awarded 2022: Mané 2023: Osimhen 2024: Lookman
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