FULL LIST: African men’s best player award winners from 1992 to 2024

The CAF African Player of the Year Award takes centre stage again today as the continent’s most prestigious individual honour is set to be presented tonight, Wednesday, in Rabat, Morocco.

Over the decades, the award has highlighted the rise of iconic talents whose performances have shaped global football, from Abedi Pelé in the early 1990s to Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Touré, Mohamed Salah, and most recently, Ademola Lookman.

This year’s edition promises another intense contest, with final nominees who have distinguished themselves across Europe’s top leagues.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen returns to the shortlist after winning in 2023, joined by Egypt and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, and Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain defender, Achraf Hakimi.

PUNCH Online compiles a list of past winners, spanning more than three decades and showcasing the legends who have defined African football.

CAF African Player of the Year winners and clubs they played for when they won (1992–2024)

2024 – Ademola Lookman

Nationality: Nigeria

Club: Atalanta Bergamo (Italy)

2023 – Victor Osimhen

Nationality: Nigeria

Club: Napoli (Italy)

2022 – Sadio Mané

Nationality: Senegal

Club: Liverpool (England)

2019 – Sadio Mané

Nationality: Senegal

Club: Liverpool (England)

2018 – Mohamed Salah

Nationality: Egypt

Club: Liverpool (England)

2017 – Mohamed Salah

Nationality: Egypt

Club: Liverpool (England)

2016 – Riyad Mahrez

Nationality: Algeria

Club: Leicester City (England)

2015 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Nationality: Gabon

Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

2014 – Yaya Touré

Nationality: Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Manchester City (England)

2013 – Yaya Touré

Nationality: Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Manchester City (England)

2012 – Yaya Touré

Nationality: Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Manchester City (England)

2011 – Yaya Touré

Nationality: Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Manchester City (England)

2010 – Samuel Eto’o

Nationality: Cameroon

Club: Inter Milan (Italy)

2009 – Didier Drogba

Nationality: Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Chelsea (England)

2008 – Emmanuel Adebayor

Nationality: Togo

Club: Arsenal (England)

2007 – Frédéric Oumar Kanouté

Nationality: Mali

Club: Sevilla FC (Spain)

2006 – Didier Drogba

Nationality: Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Chelsea (England)

2005 – Samuel Eto’o

Nationality: Cameroon

Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)

2004 – Samuel Eto’o

Nationality: Cameroon

Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)

2003 – Samuel Eto’o

Nationality: Cameroon

Club: Mallorca (Spain)

2002 – El-Hadji Diouf

Nationality: Senegal

Club: Liverpool (England)

2001 – El-Hadji Diouf

Nationality: Senegal

Club: Lens (France)

2000 – Patrick Mboma

Nationality: Cameroon

Club: Parma (Italy)

1999 – Nwankwo Kanu*

Nationality: Nigeria

Club: Arsenal (England)

1998 – Mustapha Hadji*

Nationality: Morocco

Club: Deportivo La Coruña (Spain)

1997 – Victor Ikpeba*

Nationality: Nigeria

Club: AS Monaco (France)

1996 – Nwankwo Kanu*

Nationality: Nigeria

Club: Inter Milan (Italy)

1995 – George Weah*

Nationality: Liberia

Club: AC Milan (Italy)

1994 – Emmanuel Amunike

Nationality: Nigeria

Club: Sporting Clube de Portugal (Portugal)

1993 – Rashidi Yekini*

Nationality: Nigeria

Club: Vitória Futebol Clube (Portugal)

1992 – Abedi Pelé*

Nationality: Ghana

Club: Olympique de Marseille (France)

Winners from 1992 to 1999 were awarded by France Football before CAF introduced its own version.