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The African Cup of Nations is the most prominent international football tournament on the continent. Since its start in 1957, Egypt has been the most successful nation in the competition, winning seven times in total, including three in a row between 2006 and 2010. Many African legends have won the prestigious African Cup of Nations. The most well-known names who did not win are also highlighted.
Below are the players:
1. Michael Essien (Ghana)
One of the greatest African footballers ever to play in the Premier League. Michael Essien was never awarded an AFCON. Given Ghana's deep World Cup run in 2010, it's astonishing that his infirmities kept him from assisting the Black Stars during their most successful years. Ghana came in second place in 2010 despite Essien being injured during the competition and missing the World Cup that year.
2. Emmanuel Adebayor -Togo
For many years, the Tottenham Hotspur striker has been Togo's most popular and well-known footballer. He has won numerous individual and team honours while playing for Monaco, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Real Madrid. His goals were also essential in Togo's first-ever qualification for the 2006 World Cup. Winning the AFCON, on the other hand, has proven to be an insurmountable challenge.
3. Yakubu Aiyegbeni-Nigeria
Yakubu made his national team debut in 2000 while playing for Maccabi Haifa, and he would play for his country for the next twelve years. Unfortunately, two Nigerian AFCON triumphs in 1994 and 2013 cut short his career. He was part of three Nigerian teams that finished third, with players like Obafemi Martins and John Obi Mikel at their disposal.
4. George Weah - Liberia
He was the first and only African player to win the Ballon d'Or, although he fell short of winning the prestigious African crown. George Weah, Liberia's current president, was only able to help the Lone Stars qualify for the Nations Cup twice, but they were never able to win gold.
5. Hadji Mustapha (Morocco)
Six North African teams have won the Premier League since its inception, so Mustapha Hadji's absence may come as a surprise. The former Coventry City and Aston Villa midfielder was never one of the best in the Premier League, but he did win African Footballer of the Year in 1998 after a great showing in the World Cup.
6. Kanu Nwankwo-Nigeria
Nigeria's 1994 AFCON victory was simply too young for Kanu to make the final Super Eagles lineup. The gangly striker, though, went on to have an extraordinary career, becoming one of Africa's most decorated footballers thanks to his exceptional talent. Among the many awards on his colourful shelf are a Champions League medal, an English Premier League winners' medal, an English FA Cup medal, and an Olympic gold medal. The AFCON champions' medal, on the other hand, is an obvious omission.
7. Didier Drogba-Ivory Coast
A former Chelsea player who won the Premier League, Champions League, and various domestic cups. He was one of England's most successful African players. He, on the other hand, never lifted the AFCON trophy. Despite topping the tournament in scoring in 2012, he was never awarded the trophy and retired before Ivory Coast won it in Equatorial Guinea in 2015.
8. Abedi 'Pele'-Ghanaian
Abedi was destined to lead an averagely skilled Ghanaian squad to AFCON success in Senegal in 1992, as he was called after the Brazilian legend. However, after collecting a silly yellow card in the semi-final victory over Nigeria (for which he was awarded Man of the Match), Abedi was forced to miss the final against Ivory Coast, where he could only watch as the battered Black Stars laboured in vain without their skipper and talisman. That night, Ivory Coast won on penalties, and Abedi Ayew would never play again in Africa.
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