The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the continent’s most prestigious football tournament, and over the years, it has been graced by some of the greatest players in African football history. Yet, despite their immense talent and accomplishments, a select group of footballing legends have failed to lift the AFCON trophy. These players, despite being among the best to ever play the game, have not tasted the ultimate success on the African stage. Here, we take a look at five of the greatest African players who never won the AFCON title, each of whom came agonizingly close but fell short for various reasons.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool star, is undoubtedly one of the greatest African players of his generation. Known for his blistering pace, incredible finishing, and leadership qualities, Salah has been instrumental in both Liverpool’s success in European football and Egypt’s national team achievements. However, despite his individual success, Salah has yet to win an AFCON title with Egypt, and the 2025 tournament might be his final chance to do so.

Salah’s journey with Egypt has been marked by both triumph and heartbreak. He has played in three AFCON finals—in 2017, 2019, and 2021—but has fallen short every time. In 2017, Egypt lost to Cameroon in a tight final, and in 2019, they were eliminated in the last 16 by South Africa. The most painful defeat for Salah came in 2021 when Egypt reached the final again, only to be beaten by Senegal in a dramatic penalty shootout. Salah was even held back from taking the crucial fifth penalty, as Senegal triumphed 4-2 in the shootout. Now, at 33 years old, Salah is mounting his fifth attempt to clinch the continent’s biggest prize. With Egypt’s footballing legacy and Salah’s desire to lift the trophy, this AFCON is undoubtedly the most crucial of his career.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Didier Drogba was always the man for the big occasion at Chelsea and an iconic figure in African football. A prolific striker with a killer instinct, Drogba won numerous club titles, including the Champions League with Chelsea, but the AFCON title eluded him during his illustrious career with the Ivory Coast. Drogba came closest in 2006 and 2012, where he captained his team to the AFCON final but fell short both times.

In 2006, Drogba’s Ivory Coast faced hosts Egypt in a penalty shootout, and while Drogba missed his penalty, Egypt won 4-2 in the shootout, clinching the title. 2012 proved to be another heartbreaker. In the final against Zambia, Drogba missed another penalty in regular time, and despite scoring in the shootout, Ivory Coast lost again. Drogba’s failure to win AFCON was one of the few setbacks in an otherwise brilliant career. His inability to secure this trophy is one of the great ironies of African football, given his success at the club level. Drogba’s quest for continental glory remains one of the greatest stories of what could have been.

George Weah (Liberia)

George Weah, the Ballon d’Or winner in 1995, is the most decorated African player in history, yet he was never able to claim an AFCON title with Liberia. Weah’s club career was filled with incredible success, playing for elite clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Chelsea, but his international career with Liberia was often overshadowed by the country’s lack of footballing infrastructure and resources. Despite being the best player in Africa at the time, Weah could not lead his country to glory in the AFCON tournament.

Weah’s Liberian team was never able to go beyond the group stages in the AFCON. They made their first appearance in 1996, but they failed to progress past the group stages. In 2002, at the age of 35, Weah captained Liberia in their second AFCON appearance, but they again failed to make it out of the group stage. Weah’s international career came to an end without the AFCON title, and it is often regarded as one of the greatest injustices in African football history, given his remarkable club achievements. After retiring from football, Weah transitioned into politics and was elected as the President of Liberia in 2018, continuing to influence his country and football in other ways.

Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)

Nwankwo Kanu, one of Nigeria’s most gifted players, was part of a generation that dominated African football in the 1990s and 2000s. Kanu, known for his silky dribbling and creativity, was crucial in Nigeria’s Olympic gold medal win in 1996 and a Champions League victory with Ajax in 1995. However, despite his numerous club achievements, **Kanu never won the AFCON title with Nigeria, despite coming very close on several occasions.

Kanu’s nearest miss came in 2000 when Nigeria lost to Cameroon in the final after a dramatic penalty shootout. The lanky forward missed his penalty in the shootout, and Cameroon triumphed 4-3, leaving Kanu and Nigeria with yet another heartbreak. He also participated in four other AFCON tournaments, including 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008, but his teams were unable to get past the semi-finals in those years. His individual brilliance was never enough to secure the AFCON trophy for Nigeria, and Kanu retired as one of the greatest African players without the continental title to his name.

Michael Essien (Ghana)

Michael Essien, the powerful and dynamic midfielder, was the backbone of Ghana’s midfield for over a decade, yet he too failed to win an AFCON title despite several near-misses. Essien’s time at Chelsea saw him win numerous titles, including the Premier League and Champions League, but his international career with Ghana never bore the same fruit.

Essien came closest to lifting the AFCON in 2010 when Ghana reached the final against Egypt. Unfortunately for the Ghanaians, Essien was injured halfway through the tournament, and Ghana lost 1-0 to Egypt in the final. Essien’s other AFCON appearances were similarly filled with disappointment: he was part of the 2002 squad that was knocked out in the quarter-finals, and he captained the team in 2008, only to lose in the semi-finals to Cameroon. Despite being one of Africa’s finest midfielders, Essien’s absence of an AFCON title remains one of the great “what-ifs” of African football.

These five players—Mohamed Salah, Didier Drogba, George Weah, Nwankwo Kanu, and Michael Essien—represent some of the greatest talents Africa has ever produced. They each had illustrious careers at the club level, and their influence on African football cannot be overstated. Yet, for various reasons, the AFCON trophy eluded them all. For Salah, AFCON 2025 represents one final shot at redemption, while for the others, their legacy remains defined by what they achieved at the club level, rather than continental glory.

While AFCON is a title that remains elusive for these players, their stories continue to inspire the next generation of African footballers. They have proven that greatness is not just defined by silverware but by the lasting impact they have had on the game, both on and off the pitch.