The CAF African Player of the Year award has celebrated Africa’s football legends from 1992 to 2024, highlighting talents like Abedi Pelé, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Touré, Mohamed Salah, and Ademola Lookman.
The CAF African Player of the Year Award has been Africa’s premier individual football honour for over three decades, recognising players whose performances have influenced both continental and global football. According to a report from PUNCH, the award was first presented in 1992 by France Football, with CAF taking over later.
Full list of winners and their clubs:
2024: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Atalanta Bergamo, Italy
2023: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Napoli, Italy
2022 & 2019: Sadio Mané (Senegal), Liverpool, England
2018 & 2017: Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Liverpool, England
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Leicester City, England
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Borussia Dortmund, Germany
2014–2011: Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Manchester City, England
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Inter Milan, Italy
2009 & 2006: Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Chelsea, England
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Arsenal, England
2007: Frédéric Oumar Kanouté (Mali), Sevilla, Spain
2005–2003 & 2010: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), FC Barcelona/Inter Milan, Italy
2002 & 2001: El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Liverpool/Lens, England/France
2000: Patrick Mboma (Cameroon), Parma, Italy
1999: Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Arsenal, England
1998: Mustapha Hadji (Morocco), Deportivo La Coruña, Spain
1997: Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria), AS Monaco, France
1996: Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Inter Milan, Italy
1995: George Weah (Liberia), AC Milan, Italy
1994: Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria), Sporting Clube de Portugal, Portugal
1993: Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria), Vitória Futebol Clube, Portugal
1992: Abedi Pelé (Ghana), Olympique de Marseille, France
The award continues to spotlight African stars making a mark in Europe and beyond, with this year’s shortlist featuring Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Salah, and Achraf Hakimi.