Great African Stars Who Never Won AFCON: Salah, Drogba, Weah, Kanu, Essien

Across Africa, the Africa Cup of Nations has crowned legends, yet several of the continent’s greatest players never lifted the trophy. As Egypt prepare for AFCON 2025 in Morocco, INLIBER Sport Africa revisits five stars who came close to glory but fell short at the final hurdle.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

At 33, Salah stands as one of Egypt’s most beloved captains. The Pharaohs boast seven AFCON titles, but their last triumph dates back to 2010, a long drought spanning Salah’s international debut in 2011.

Egypt missed out on the 2012, 2013 and 2015 editions, meaning Salah did not feature in those campaigns. His first AFCON final arrived in 2017, when Cameroon edged Egypt in the final.

The forward was named African Footballer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and he helped Egypt reach the 2019 AFCON last 16, before South Africa eliminated them in a surprise upset.

Egypt reached the 2021 final, only to be defeated by Senegal in a penalty shootout; Salah was kept from taking the decisive fifth kick as Senegal triumphed 4-2. In the 2023 AFCON group stage, an injury sidelined Salah, and Egypt were knocked out by DR Congo in the round of 16.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Famed for his big-game brilliance with Chelsea, Drogba carried Ivory Coast on many occasions, but the AFCON final proved unforgiving when it came to penalties. In 2006, Ivory Coast faced hosts Egypt and were beaten 4-2 in the shootout after a goalless draw.

The 2012 final against Zambia ended in a shootout again, with Drogba's late penalty window of opportunity gone astray; he did net in the shootout, but Ivory Coast still fell short. Drogba retired from international football in 2014; Ivory Coast finally claimed AFCON glory in 2015, sealing the title on penalties against Ghana.

George Weah (Liberia)

Weah sits high in football’s pantheon, celebrated as Africa’s Ballon d’Or winner in 1995 and a two-time African Player of the Year. Yet Liberia’s AFCON appearances with Weah were scarce. The team made its tournament debut in 1996, playing only a couple of group games after Nigeria’s withdrawal, and exited on goal difference after a win over Gabon and a defeat to Zaire (now DR Congo).

Weah returned for Liberia’s 2002 campaign, scoring in the opening draw, but the team again failed to advance. Beyond football, Weah later led Liberia as president from 2018 to 2024, extending his influence beyond the pitch.

Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)

Kanu enjoyed a trophy-laden club career, winning Europe’s top competitions with Ajax and Inter Milan and thriving at Arsenal. He also starred for Nigeria’s youth teams, winning the Under-17 World Cup in 1993 and an Olympic gold in 1996.

Nevertheless, AFCON glory eluded him. The closest came in 2000 when Nigeria lost the final to Cameroon on penalties after his kick was saved. In the following years, semi-final exits (2002, 2004, 2006, 2010) and a quarter-final in 2008 kept the trophy out of reach, leaving Kanu with silver and bronze rather than gold.

Michael Essien (Ghana)

Essien stands out as one of Ghana’s most gifted midfielders. Ghana last won AFCON in 1982, so modern stars carried the burden of chasing a first title in generations. Essien, a stalwart at Chelsea, enjoyed immense club success but could not translate that into AFCON glory with the Black Stars.

He featured at the 2002 tournament (quarter-finals), was part of the 2008 squad that finished third on home soil, and played in 2010 when Ghana reached the final but were defeated by Egypt. An injury during that 2010 campaign kept him from finishing the tournament, a symbolic moment in a chapter defined by near misses for Ghana.

Expert comment: A football analyst notes that AFCON’s knockout format often amplifies heartbreak for even the strongest players, but their legacies endure beyond a single trophy. The expert adds that greatness in African football is measured by impact on and off the field, not only by medals.

Short summary: Salah, Drogba, Weah, Kanu, and Essien are among Africa’s most celebrated talents, yet AFCON glory escaped them all. Their achievements at club level and their leaderships on the international stage cement a lasting legacy that transcends a solitary trophy. These stories remind fans that true greatness is broader than any single prize.

Key insight: AFCON heartbreak cannot erase the lasting impact of Africa’s greatest players; their legacies live on through clubs, leadership, and influence. BBC Sport

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