5 African Football Legends Who Never Won the AFCON Trophy

In African football, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the ultimate crown. It is the stage where legends confirm their status, where countries write new chapters of pride and pain. Yet, some of the continent’s most iconic players – men who dominated Europe and inspired millions – never got to lift this particular trophy.

From Mohamed Salah still chasing history with Egypt to George Weah’s heroic but ultimately heartbreaking attempts with Liberia, AFCON has been unforgiving to even the biggest names. Here are five of the greatest African players who, despite glittering careers, never won the continent’s biggest prize.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) 

At 33, Mohamed Salah has won almost everything at club level with Liverpool: the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup and numerous individual awards. But with Egypt, the continent’s most successful AFCON nation, one thing is still missing – the trophy itself.

Egypt have seven AFCON titles, yet their last triumph came in 2010, just before Salah broke into the national team. Since his debut in 2011, the Pharaohs have gone through a rare drought on the continental stage.

Salah’s AFCON story is full of near-misses and heartbreak. His first appearance in 2017 ended in a defeat to Cameroon in the final. In 2019, on home soil, Egypt crashed out in the round of 16 against South Africa in front of stunned home fans. In 2021, he reached the final again, only to lose on penalties to Senegal. Salah was held back as the fifth penalty taker, but the shootout ended before it got to him.

In 2023, another twist: he picked up an injury in the group stage and watched from the sidelines as Egypt were knocked out by DR Congo in the round of 16. For a player of his calibre, AFCON remains the one major gap on his international CV – and time is no longer on his side.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) 

For Chelsea, Didier Drogba was the man for the big occasion: nine goals in ten major finals and a habit of delivering when it mattered most. For Ivory Coast, however, the AFCON final became the stage of his deepest disappointments.

Drogba led the Elephants to two AFCON finals as captain. In 2006, they lost to Egypt on penalties. Drogba had his spot-kick saved in the shootout, and the Pharaohs went on to win 4–2.

In 2012, Ivory Coast returned to the final as overwhelming favourites against Zambia. With about 10 minutes left in normal time, Drogba had a golden chance to win it from the penalty spot – but he blasted the ball over the bar. The match went to penalties again, and once more the Elephants fell short.

Across his AFCON career, Ivory Coast also finished fourth in 2008 and suffered quarter-final exits in 2010 and 2013. Ironically, six months after Drogba retired from international football in 2014, Ivory Coast finally won the title in 2015 – again on penalties, this time against Ghana.

Drogba remains one of Africa’s greatest-ever strikers, a Champions League winner and a national hero who helped calm tensions during his country’s civil war. But AFCON glory always stayed just out of reach.

George Weah (Liberia)

George Weah is still in a class of his own: the only African ever to win the Ballon d’Or. At his peak with Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, he was one of the most feared forwards in the world, winning both FIFA World Player of the Year and African Footballer of the Year in 1995.

But at international level, he did not have the luxury of a powerful football nation behind him. Weah played for Liberia, a country with limited resources and a small footballing structure. His presence alone lifted the team far above expectations, but even his greatness could not turn them into champions.

Liberia qualified for AFCON only twice with Weah involved. In 1996, they competed in a reduced group after Nigeria withdrew and were eliminated on goal difference despite beating Gabon. Their second appearance came in 2002, when a 35-year-old Weah scored his only AFCON goal in a draw against hosts Mali. Liberia again failed to advance from the group.

Weah later moved from leading Liberia on the pitch to leading it politically, serving as President from 2018 to 2024. For many Liberians, his leadership and symbolism mean more than any trophy. Still, when AFCON history is told, he stands as the perfect example of how even a world-beater cannot win alone.

Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria) 

Nwankwo Kanu’s career reads like a dream: Champions League winner with Ajax, UEFA Cup winner with Inter Milan, Premier League titles and FA Cups with Arsenal, plus Olympic gold with Nigeria at Atlanta 1996. Twice named African Footballer of the Year, he is widely loved across the continent.

Yet, despite all this success, an AFCON title never came his way. His best chance arrived in 2000, when Nigeria co-hosted the tournament with Ghana. The Super Eagles reached the final and faced Cameroon. In the decisive penalty shootout, Kanu saw his spot-kick saved. Cameroon eventually won, and Nigeria were left with silver.

For the rest of his AFCON career, Nigeria remained close but never crossed the line. They finished third in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010, and exited in the quarter-finals in 2008. Kanu ended his international journey with medals and memories, but the AFCON trophy stayed missing from his collection.

Michael Essien (Ghana) 

For many fans, Michael Essien is one of the finest midfielders Africa has produced. At his best for Chelsea between 2005 and 2012, he combined power, energy, tackling and long-range shooting in a way few could match. He won league titles, domestic cups and the Champions League at club level.

With Ghana, however, he ran into the long shadow of history. The Black Stars last won AFCON in 1982. Since then, several generations of talented players have tried and failed to reclaim the title – and Essien’s era was no different.

He was part of the squad beaten in the quarter-finals in 2002, missed the 2006 edition through injury, and captained Ghana at home in 2008, where they finished third after losing to Cameroon in the semi-finals. In 2010, he was injured again midway through the tournament and watched as Ghana reached their first final in 18 years, only to lose narrowly to Egypt.

Frequent injuries reduced his availability for later tournaments, and Ghana’s long wait for another AFCON title continued. Essien retired from the national team admired and respected, but like many of his Ghanaian teammates, without the continental trophy his talent seemed destined for.