With AFCON 2023 kicking off this weekend, we’re taking a trip down memory lane and with a look through the last five players of the tournament.
Despite some of the global superstars to come out of African football since the turn of the century, there are some surprising names on this list!
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2013 – Jonathan Pitroipa
2013 proved to be The Super Eagles’ year, but not without being run close by the tournament’s surprise package, Burkina Faso. Rennes forward Jonathan Pitroipa was the star of the show, netting twice including an extra-time winner against Togo in the Quarter Finals. Pitroipa’s darting runs were a trademark of Burkina Faso’s play as they beat a fancied Ghana side in the semi-finals before eventually falling short to Nigeria in the final
2015 – Christian Atsu
The late Christian Atsu lit up AFCON 2015 with his attacking flair and dribbling ability as his Ghana side fell short of glory, losing to The Ivory Coast’s golden generation in the final. Atsu’s best performance came in the quarter-final victory over Guinea, scoring twice in Malabo to set The Black Stars on course to victory in a scintillating display.
2017 – Christian Bassagog
21-year-old Christian Bassagog inspired Cameroon to their fifth AFCON title in 2017, coming out of relative obscurity to lift Africa’s greatest prize. Bassagog went from playing semi-pro football just two years previous to playing nearly every minute of the tournament, with his commanding displays proving pivotal in Cameroon’s victory
2019 – Ismaël Bennacer
Now playing in midfield for AC Milan, former Empoli midfielder Ismaël Bennacer was outstanding for Algeria as they battled to victory after a series of thrilling matches against some of Africa’s best sides in a superb run to the AFCON trophy. Bennacer’s authoritative displays in midfield helped free up the likes of Riyad Mahrez as Algeria won their second-ever AFCON trophy.
2021 – Sadio Mané
Considered one of the best forwards of his generation, 2019 was a year to remember for Sadio Mané. He netted a 97th-minute penalty to see Senegal past Zimbabwe in their opening group match before netting again in the last 16 and semi-finals. In the final penalty shootout against Egypt, it was Mané who scored the winning penalty to send Senegal into delirium for their first-ever AFCON title.
