Football is a popular game all over the world especially in Africa. It doesn't require expensive equipment and even gives room for maximum improvisation therefore; it is easily accessible to every interested participant. It requires manpower, interesting tricks, teaches cooperation and unity among teammates.
This exciting game is popularly known and played among young people in Africa. It was initiated by the Europeans and firstly played in the year 1862 in South Africa. The Nigeria women were the first to take interest in football then the Senegalese. In Africa, both male and female have made history that would forever be engraved. These are some African players that are pacesetters in the world of football.
Michael Kolo Essien
Essien is a Ghanaian player, who played for different clubs across the country but, still remained loyal to his country. His field of expertise is being a midfielder, which earned him the nickname Bison. He is so good and has gained mastery that his impact could be easily spotted. He started his journey of sports playing for the liberty team in Ghanam
Invariably he played for Lyon, Chelsea, Baslia, Milan and lots more, he was loaned to Real Madrid for a short while and never ceased to bring glory home. Essien has won Premier League twice, and earned one league cup and three FA cups for Chelsea. He was awarded player of the year for Lyon and Chelsea. December 2007 he was runner-up to the African footballer of the year, in 1999 he played in the FIFA U-17 world championship and won a bronze. He has won 12 trophies and earned 17 titles he is currently a coach to FC Nordsjaelland.
Perpetual Nkwocha Nwufor
This Lioness is undeniably an icon in African female football, she is a Nigerian Professional Footballer who played for Sunana SK in Sweden and represented her country Nigeria. She has a knack for scoring goals and is widely known as a top scorer having recorded 80 goals for Nigeria.
The awards she won are exceptional and indicate mastery they include, three African women's championship, four African women's footballer of the year, and five CAF women's championship. Definitely, she is one of the trademarks in African women's football.
Samuel Eto'o Fils
This legendary body is a Cameroonian footballer; his achievements are exceptional winning multiple international awards. He was born for the football field and has started playing at 16, In his journey he has faced numerous racism but always known to be outspoken and never allowed taunts weigh him down.
His has won his highest number of goals for Barcelona, having signed by 11 clubs and loaned to three clubs. Cameroon would be proud of him, having Won a gold medal at Olympic games and one runner-up then, became twice winner of African cup of nations. He has won four consecutive times African player of the year even earned the Golden ball and Golden foot awards indeed Samuel Eto'o is a legend and a star.
Asisat Lamina Oshoala
This young passionate woman is a complete definition of resilient, determined and confident personality. She is Nigerian footballer who went against all odds to pursue her dreams and career. She is a notable striker who has acquired dexterity with her endowed legs popularly known as one of the best Footballers of all time.
Asisat is an iconic heroine who has won lots of international awards such as the BBC women's footballer of the year, Top scorers for Chinese Super league and also FIFA Under-20 women's world cup. She is Nigeria's favourite top female players of the season. She is currently signed with Barcelona and has a platform that empowers young female footballer in Africa.
Didier Yves Drogba
This is a Unique footballer who was awarded player of the year by the National Union of Professional Footballers UNFP. It could be seen that the family is into the world of football as his uncle, himself and two of his brothers are ivorian footballers. Drogba is a renowned professional footballer who scored hat-tricks and known to always save the day at the eleventh hour. He is a swift striker taking the goal keepers by surprise with tricks up his sleeves.
He has played for many countries but has always found home away from home with Chelsea and formed a bond with the manager, José Mourinho. He is a great asset to the club and has won a total of 104 goals for Chelsea. His passion for football made him retire at 40 inspite of the numerous injuries sustained during the course of his journey in football. He has won the player of the year for Turkey, Africa, Chelsea and ivory coast. Also the premiere league hall of fame having won twice the Golden boot. His sportsmanship made him win the sportsman of the year and UEFA team of the year.
Mercy Akide Udoh
A mother and a coach, mercy is a Nigerian footballer who has proved that the society has no right to limit your dreams and aspirations. This sporty woman is well acquainted with sports right from childhood, her interests were races, table tennis and football. She pursed her dream of because a well-known professional footballer and won awards for Nigeria also played in Olympics, world cups and America leagues.
After marriage and birth of her first child she quit playing but, once a footballer always a footballer and became a coach and has coached young ones who aspires to dream big. Few places she has impacted are Beach FC, Rush soccer club,still United also Reagent University college at Virginia.
Essam Kamal El Hadary
This historic Egyptian goalkeeper has made a name for his Country and Africa at large. He is a four times winner of Africa Cup of Nations, eight times Egyptian Champion in his goalkeeping career he was awarded 26 trophies and many more titles. El Hadary gloves of world cup is exhibited at FIFA world football museum he retired when he was almost 50 years of age.
Augustine Azuka Okocha
Popularly known as Jay Jay okocha a Nigerian footballer who is a swift midfielder with beautiful dribbling skills. He is one Nigeria loved players who won their hearts with his goals, in spite of the shortcomings of his teammates he made up for it never letting that be an impediment. He won Bolton's Best player in 2008, won the African Cup award, Gold medal in the Olympic games and lots more.
Mohamed Salah Hamed
A talented Egyptian who is a blazing trail leaving footprint in every corner. Mohamed Salah is a left-footed player who uses this advantage at every opportunity. in his debut matches he scored a total of 44 goals showing that his focus is to hit the net.
This genius has been making waves from a young stage. Now a champion for his country egypt, even for the football industry. He has won CAF most promising talent of the year and UAFA Golden boy in 2012. Mohamed Salah has won the top-scoring Africa player in premier league having 119 goals. Also has brought victory to his various club and Cario.
Nkankwo Kanu
This Nigeria legend is a skillful footballer, who has made history inspite of his congenital heart problems. He reached for his goals and made sure he achieved them he was the FIFA U-17 world cup winner, twice the African footballer of the year, UEFA cup winner and many more awards.
That Africa is a great country is an understatement. Over the years, Africans have been making proud themselves and one another. We have many great personalities from the different spheres of life, and today we'd be discussing 10 of these personalities who have make a unique mark land in the history of football.
1. Larbi Ben Barek
A sublime talent who would deserve a place right at the pinnacle of this list, but the Black Pearl represented France and never his native Morocco. Considering him would have opened the door to players such as Marcel Desailly, Basile Boli, Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira.
2. John Obi Mikel
He has received a lot of criticism throughout his career, but the honours he has racked up at Chelsea, as well as his talismanic, inspirational contribution to Nigeria’s recent Cup of Nations triumph put him firmly in the running. Only a major achievement or two away from confirming his spot among the continent’s finest ever players.
3. El Hadji Diouf
The two-time African Footballer of the Year has never managed to build on his promise of the early 2000s. Too much time spent away from the elite level and his failings at Liverpool have resulted in a disappointing career.
4. Frederic Kanoute
He was a terrific goal-scorer and the first non-African born player to win the African Footballer of the Year award. His great goalscoring record with Mali never translated to continental honours, and he never won a major league or the Champions League to match excellent scoring rates at Sevilla and West Ham. He had to settle for a haul of cup triumphs.
5. Badou Ezzaki
A great stopper who represented Morocco during a strong era for North African sides, he should make the top 20 based on aura, but tangible honours are scant. Heenjoyed outstanding seasons in La Liga for Mallorca, rather than one of the division's truly top teams.
6. Kalusha Bwalya
It saddens the heart to leave this genuine icon out of the list. A one-time African Footballer of the Year and an elite player with PSV in Holland, arriving only after the club’s European Cup triumph of 1988. His stunning solo destruction of Italy at the 1988 Olympics was the highlight of his Zambia career. It would surely have all been so different had the Chipolopolo not been devastated by the tragic plane crash of 1993.
7. Lakhdar Belloumi
Considered to be the greatest Algerian player of all time, his nation’s most-capped player and their cultural cornerstone during the 80s has a trophy cabinet—both at international and club level—that is remarkably sparse.
8. Godfrey Chitalu
Scorer of glorious goals and a five-time Zambian footballer of the year, the temperamental forward won precious little with the Zambian national side or club sides Kitwe United and Kabwe Warriors.
9. Mustapha Hadji
Hadji was an agile, innovative, imaginative attacking midfielder who excelled with the ball at his feet and a defence ahead of him. He was named African Footballer of the Year in 1998—the only non-West African to win the award in over two decades. He qualified for two World Cups with the Moroccan side and impressed at France in 1998. His showing against Norway remains one of the finest performances by an African player on the global stage. The Atlas Lions never quite flourished in continental competition during this time though and Hadji never won the African Nations Cup. A stop-start club career saw him spend time in Germany, Spain, Portugal and even Luxembourg. Hadji was remembered fondly for his time in England with Coventry City, but was powerless to prevent the Sky Blues from relegation in 2001. He won the FA Cup with Aston Villa, the Portuguese Cup with Sporting and Ligue 2 with Nancy.
10. Marc-Vivien Foe
The cornerstone of the Cameroonian side that so dazzled at the turn of the millennium, the defensive midfielder’s life was cut short during the Confederations Cup as he suffered heart failure. Foe won two continental crowns with Cameroon—in 2000 and 2002—and also represented the side at the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. He would have been present in 1998 as well, but missed the tournament due to injury. A French league champion with both Lens and Lyon, he also won a couple of French League Cups and a Cameroonian Cup with Canon Yaounde.
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