)
Sadio Mané was the latest winner, winning in 2019
The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African footballer each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine. The changes resulted in parallel Golden Ball awards given out to Abedi Pele and George Weah in 1993[1] and 1994[2] by the magazine although the CAF sponsored awards for those years were won respectively by Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amuneke, as well as two awards given to Abedi Pele in 1992.[3] France Football discontinued the election from 1995 after the European Ballon d'Or – also awarded by the magazine – had been opened to all players in the European leagues.[4]
Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Touré are the players who have won the award the most times (4 wins each), Didier Drogba is the player with the most runner-up appearances (4), most third place finishes (3), and most times in the top three (9). Frédéric Kanouté, Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (all born in France) are the only European-born players to win the award (both Kanouté and Aubameyang initially featured for France's U21 squad before going on to represent Mali[5][6] and Gabon, respectively).
Winners
France Football award (1970–1994)
Salif Keita, the first player win the award in 1970.
.jpg)
)
Lakhdar Belloumi, winner of the award in 1981.
)
Mahmoud El Khatib was the first player from Egypt to win the award in 1983.
)
Roger Milla, two-time winner of the award given by France Football.
.jpg'))
Abedi Pele, won the award three consecutive times from 1991-1993 and also won both France Football award and new CAF award in 1992.
The award by France Football magazine was awarded to the best African footballer between 1970 and 1994. The award was discontinued in 1995 after the European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) was opened to players of non-European nationality, the award being given to George Weah that year. It had already been replaced by an official award given out by the Confederation of African Football since 1992.
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1st |  Salif Keïta |  Saint-Étienne | 54 |
| 2nd |  Laurent Pokou | ASEC Abidjan | 28 | |
 Ali Abo Greisha | Ismaily | |||
| 1971 | 1st |  Ibrahim Sunday | Asante Kotoko | 29 |
| 2nd | Robert Mensah | Asante Kotoko | 15 | |
| 3rd | .svg.png){kind=small} François Ndoumbé | Canon Yaoundé | 13 | |
| 1972 | 1st |  Chérif Souleymane | Hafia | 21 |
| 2nd |  Bwanga Tshimen | TP Mazembe | 16 | |
| 3rd | Petit Sory | Hafia | 14 | |
| 1973 | 1st | Bwanga Tshimen | TP Mazembe | 49 |
| 2nd | Kazadi Mwamba | TP Mazembe | 44 | |
| 3rd | Laurent Pokou | ASEC Abidjan | 41 | |
| 1974 | 1st |  Paul Moukila | CARA Brazzaville | 57 |
| 2nd | Lobilo Boba | Vita Club | 32 | |
| 3rd | Hassan Shehata | Zamalek | 28 | |
| 1975 | 1st |  Ahmed Faras | Mohammédia | 28 |
| 2nd |  Roger Milla | Tonnerre Yaoundé | 24 | |
| Mamadou Aliou Kéïta | Hafia | |||
| 1976 | 1st | Roger Milla | Tonnerre Yaoundé | 33 |
| 2nd | Papa Camara | Hafia | 32 | |
| 3rd |  Ali Bencheikh | MC Alger | 27 | |
| 1977 | 1st | .svg.png){kind=small} Tarak Dhiab | Espérance Tunis | 45 |
| 2nd | Papa Camara | Hafia | 33 | |
| 3rd |  Segun Odegbami | Shooting Stars | 29 | |
| 1978 | 1st | Karim Abdul Razak | Asante Kotoko | 58 |
| 2nd | Ali Bencheikh | MC Alger | 33 | |
| 3rd | Thomas N'Kono | Canon Yaoundé | 29 | |
| 1979 | 1st | Thomas N'Kono | Canon Yaoundé | 55 |
| 2nd | Adolf Armah | Hearts of Oak | 23 | |
| 3rd | Kerfalla Bangoura | Horoya | 15 | |
| 1980 | 1st | Jean Manga-Onguéné | Canon Yaoundé | 64 |
| 2nd | Segun Odegbami | Shooting Stars | 41 | |
| 3rd | Théophile Abega | Canon Yaoundé | 18 | |
| 1981 | 1st | Lakhdar Belloumi | GC Mascara | 78 |
| 2nd | Thomas N'Kono | Canon Yaoundé | 54 | |
| 3rd | Ali Fergani | JS Kabylie | 26 | |
| 1982 | 1st | Thomas N'Kono |  Espanyol | 83 |
| 2nd | Salah Assad | Mulhouse | 54 | |
| 3rd | Lakhdar Belloumi | GC Mascara | 36 | |
| 1983 | 1st | Mahmoud El Khatib | Al Ahly | 98 |
| 2nd | Opoku Nti | Asante Kotoko | 89 | |
| 3rd |  Rafiou Moutairou | OC Agaza | 19 | |
| 1984 | 1st | Théophile Abega | Toulouse | 124 |
| 2nd | Joseph-Antoine Bell | Al Mokawloon Al Arab | 65 | |
| Ibrahim Youssef | Zamalek | |||
| 1985 | 1st | Mohamed Timoumi | AS FAR | 113 |
| 2nd | Rabah Madjer |  Porto | 45 | |
| 3rd | Ibrahim Youssef | Zamalek | 39 | |
| 1986 | 1st | Ezzaki Badou | Mallorca | 125 |
| 2nd | Aziz Bouderbala |  Sion | 88 | |
| 3rd | Roger Milla | Montpellier | 80 | |
| 1987 | 1st | Rabah Madjer | Porto | 130 |
| 2nd | Youssouf Falikou Fofana | Monaco | 63 | |
| 3rd | François Omam-Biyik | Laval | 52 | |
| 1988 | 1st | .svg.png){kind=small} Kalusha Bwalya | .svg.png){kind=small} Cercle Brugge | 111 |
| 2nd | Roger Milla | Montpellier | 68 | |
| 3rd | Youssouf Falikou Fofana | Monaco | 40 | |
| 1989 | 1st |  George Weah | Monaco | 133 |
| 2nd | Joseph-Antoine Bell | Bordeaux | 105 | |
| 3rd |  Kalusha Bwalya |  PSV | 49 | |
| 1990 | 1st | Roger Milla | Saint-Pierroise | 209 |
| 2nd | Tahar Chérif El-Ouazzani |  Aydınspor | 64 | |
| 3rd | Rabah Madjer | Porto | 60 | |
| François Omam-Biyik | Rennes | |||
| 1991 | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 152 |
| 2nd | George Weah | Monaco | 106 | |
| 3rd | François Omam-Biyik | Cannes | 52 | |
| 1992 | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 198 |
| 2nd | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 161 | |
| 3rd | Tony Yeboah |  Eintracht Frankfurt | 64 | |
| 1993 | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 119 |
| 2nd | Tony Yeboah | Eintracht Frankfurt | 117 | |
| 3rd | Rashidi Yekini | Vitória de Setúbal | 104 | |
| 1994 | 1st | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 148 |
| 2nd | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting CP | 133 | |
| 3rd | Daniel Amokachi |  Everton | 99 | |
CAF award (1992–present)
)
George Weah won the award in 1995 and also they won France Football award twice, including the last award in 1994.
)
Nwankwo KANU is the first player to win the Caf African Footballer of the year award more than once
)
Samuel Eto'o won the award four times.
)
Didier Drogba was the first Ivorian to win the award in 2006.
)
Yaya Touré won the award four consecutive times from 2011 to 2014.
)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the first player from Gabon to win the award in 2015.
Riyad Mahrez won his first award in 2016.
)
Mohamed Salah won the award 2 times in a row in 2017 and 2018.
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | – |
| 1994 | 1st | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting CP | 48 |
| 2nd | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 44 | |
| Rashidi Yekini |  Olympiacos | |||
| 1995 | 1st | George Weah |  Milan | – |
| 2nd | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting CP | – | |
| 3rd | Daniel Amokachi | Everton | – | |
| 1996 | 1st | Nwankwo Kanu | Internazionale | – |
| 2nd | George Weah | Milan | – | |
| 3rd | Daniel Amokachi | Beşiktaş | – | |
| 1997 | 1st | Victor Ikpeba | Monaco | 56 |
| 2nd |  Japhet N'Doram | Monaco | 40 | |
| 3rd | Taribo West | Internazionale | 35 | |
| 1998 | 1st | Mustapha Hadji | Deportivo La Coruña | 76 |
| 2nd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Paris Saint-Germain | 74 | |
| 3rd | Sunday Oliseh | Ajax | 58 | |
| 1999 | 1st | Nwankwo Kanu | Arsenal | 46 |
| 2nd | Samuel Kuffour | Bayern Munich | 44 | |
| 3rd | Ibrahima Bakayoko | Marseille | 42 | |
| 2000 | 1st | Patrick M'Boma | Parma | 123 |
| 2nd | Lauren | Mallorca | 36 | |
| 3rd | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | 29 | |
| 2001 | 1st |  El Hadji Diouf | Lens | 93 |
| 2nd | Samuel Kuffour | Bayern Munich | 66 | |
| 3rd | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | 34 | |
| 2002 | 1st | El Hadji Diouf | Liverpool | 93 |
| 2nd | Papa Bouba Diop | Lens | 46 | |
| 3rd | Ahmed Hossam Mido | Ajax | 42 | |
| 2003 | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | – |
| 2nd | Didier Drogba | Marseille | – | |
| 3rd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Bolton Wanderers | – | |
| 2004 | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Barcelona | 116 |
| 2nd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 90 | |
| 3rd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Bolton Wanderers | 68 | |
| 2005 | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Barcelona | 108 |
| 2nd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 106 | |
| 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 50 | |
| 2006 | 1st | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 79 |
| 2nd | Samuel Eto'o | Barcelona | 76 | |
| 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 36 | |
| 2007 | 1st | Frédéric Kanouté | Sevilla | – |
| 2nd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | – | |
| 3rd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | – | |
| 2008 | 1st | Emmanuel Adebayor | Arsenal | 74 |
| 2nd | Mohamed Abou Trika | Al Ahly | 53 | |
| 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 36 | |
| 2009 | 1st | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 92 |
| 2nd | Samuel Eto'o | Internazionale | 69 | |
| 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 43 | |
| 2010 | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Internazionale | – |
| 2nd | Asamoah Gyan | Sunderland | – | |
| 3rd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | – | |
| 2011 | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | – |
| 2nd | Seydou Keita | Barcelona | – | |
| 3rd | André Ayew | Marseille | – | |
| 2012 | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | – |
| 2nd | Didier Drogba |  Shanghai Shenhua | – | |
| 3rd | Alex Song | Barcelona | – | |
| 2013 | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | 373 |
| 2nd | John Obi Mikel | Chelsea | 265 | |
| 3rd | Didier Drogba | Galatasaray | 236 | |
| 2014 | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | 175 |
| 2nd |  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 120 | |
| 3rd | Vincent Enyeama | Lille | 105 | |
| 2015 | 1st | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 143 |
| 2nd | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | 136 | |
| 3rd | André Ayew | .svg.jpg){kind=small} Swansea City | 112 | |
| 2016 | 1st | Riyad Mahrez | Leicester City | 361 |
| 2nd | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 313 | |
| 3rd | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 186 | |
| 2017 | 1st | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 625 |
| 2nd | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 507 | |
| 3rd | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 311 | |
| 2018 | 1st | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 567 |
| 2nd | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 440 | |
| 3rd | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Arsenal | 197 | |
| 2019 | 1st | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 477 |
| 2nd | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 325 | |
| 3rd | Riyad Mahrez | Manchester City | 267 | |
Multiple winners
* Players in bold are currently active
| Player | Winner | Runner-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Eto'o | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Yaya Touré | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| George Weah | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Abedi Pele | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Didier Drogba | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Roger Milla | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Mohamed Salah | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Nwankwo Kanu | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| El Hadji Diouf | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Awards won by nationality
| Nation | Winners | Runners-up | Third places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | 11 | 8 | 10 |
| Ghana | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| Ivory Coast | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Nigeria | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| Morocco | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Algeria | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Egypt | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Liberia | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Senegal | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Mali | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Guinea | 1 | 3 | 2 |
 DR Congo | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Gabon | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Togo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Zambia | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Congo | 1 | 0 | 0 |
 Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chad | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Awards won by club
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Third places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Marseille | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Manchester City | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Monaco | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Barcelona | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Asante Kotoko | 2 | 2 | – |
| Canon Yaoundé | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Mallorca | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Internazionale | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Arsenal | 2 | – | 1 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 1 | 3 | – |
| Hafia Conacry | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| TP Mazembe | 1 | 2 | – |
| Borussia Dortmund | 1 | 2 | – |
| Sporting CP | 1 | 2 | – |
| Porto | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Al Ahly | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tonnerre Yaoundé | 1 | 1 | – |
| Lens | 1 | 1 | – |
| Milan | 1 | 1 | – |
| Sporting CP | 1 | 1 | – |
| GC Mascara | 1 | – | 1 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | 1 | – | 1 |
| Cercle Brugge | 1 | – | – |
| CARA Brazzaville | 1 | – | – |
| Leicester City | 1 | – | – |
| Saint-Étienne | 1 | – | – |
| Toulouse | 1 | – | – |
| Parma | 1 | – | – |
| FAR Rabat | 1 | – | – |
| SCC Mohammédia | 1 | – | – |
| JS Saint-Pierroise | 1 | – | – |
| Deportivo La Coruña | 1 | – | – |
| Espanyol | 1 | – | – |
| Sevilla | 1 | – | – |
| Espérance Sportive de Tunis | 1 | – | – |
| Zamalek SC | – | 2 | 1 |
| Bayern Munich | – | 2 | – |
| MC Alger | – | 1 | 1 |
| ASEC Mimosas | – | 1 | 1 |
| Montpellier | – | 1 | 1 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | – | 1 | 1 |
| Shooting Stars | – | 1 | 1 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | – | 1 | – |
| Vita Club | – | 1 | – |
| Al Mokawloon Al Arab | – | 1 | – |
| Sunderland | – | 1 | – |
| Bordeaux | – | 1 | – |
| FC Mulhouse | – | 1 | – |
| Hearts of Oak | – | 1 | – |
| FC Sion | – | 1 | – |
| Aydınspor | – | 1 | – |
| JS Kabylie | – | – | 2 |
| Bolton Wanderers | – | – | 2 |
| Everton | – | – | 2 |
| Ajax | – | – | 2 |
| Ismaily SC | – | – | 1 |
| AS Cannes | – | – | 1 |
| Stade Lavallois | – | – | 1 |
| Lille | – | – | 1 |
| Rennes | – | – | 1 |
| Olympiacos | – | – | 1 |
| Horoya AC | – | – | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | – | – | 1 |
| OC Agaza | – | – | 1 |
| Beşiktaş | – | – | 1 |
| Galatasaray | – | – | 1 |
| Swansea City | – | – | 1 |
See also
- BBC African Footballer of the Year
- FIFA World Player of the Year
- CAF Awards
- List of Africa Cup of Nations hat-tricks
- List of Africa Women Cup of Nations hat-tricks
- List of African Nations Championship hat-tricks
- List of sport awards
- List of sports awards honoring women
References
- ^ "African Player of the Year 1993". Rsssf.com. 5 January 2001. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "African Player of the Year 1994". Rsssf.com. 5 January 2001. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "African Player of the Year". rsssf.com. 1 January 2000. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- ^ "African Player of the Year". rsssf.com. 1 January 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ Kanoute named Africa's best
- ^ Furious Drogba Slams CAF Over Kanoute Award And Pulls Out