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.
Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Touré have won the award the most times (4 wins each), Two-time winner 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). The France-born Frédéric Kanouté, Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 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 and Gabon, respectively).[1] [2] The winner of the 2023 edition is Victor Osimhen.
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[3] and 1994[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] In 1991 the magazine Afrique Football installed an award. It was discontinued in 2003.
In 2023, Algerian footballer Riyad Mahrez was not chosen as a finalist for the award.[7] Mahrez's absence was perceived as a snub by media and the Algerian football community.[8] [9] Algerian manager Abdelhak Benchikha, nominated for Best African Coach, said he would not attend the CAF awards ceremony in solidarity with Mahrez, Algerian club USM Alger, and Algerian footballer Zinedine Belaid.[10] Walid Sadi, the president of the Algerian Football Federation, also said that he would not attend the ceremony as a show of support for Mahrez.[11]
The award by France Football magazine 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 It had already been replaced by an official award given out by the Confederation of African Football since 1992.[12]
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  Salif Keïta |  Saint-Étienne | 54 |
| 2nd | Laurent Pokou | ASEC Abidjan | 28 | ||
 Ali Abo Greisha | Ismaily | ||||
| 1971 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  Ibrahim Sunday | Asante Kotoko | 29 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Robert Mensah | Asante Kotoko | 15 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd |  François Ndoumbé | Canon Yaoundé | 13 | |
| 1972 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  Chérif Souleymane | Hafia | 21 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Bwanga Tshimen | TP Mazembe | 16 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Petit Sory | Hafia | 14 | |
| 1973 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Bwanga Tshimen | TP Mazembe | 49 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Kazadi Mwamba | TP Mazembe | 44 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Laurent Pokou | ASEC Abidjan | 41 | |
| 1974 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  Paul Moukila | CARA Brazzaville | 57 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Lobilo Boba | Vita Club | 32 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Hassan Shehata | Zamalek | 28 | |
| 1975 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  Ahmed Faras | Mohammédia | 28 |
| 2nd | Roger Milla | Tonnerre Yaoundé | 24 | ||
| Mamadou Aliou Kéïta | Hafia | ||||
| 1976 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Roger Milla | Tonnerre Yaoundé | 33 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Papa Camara | Hafia | 32 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd |  Ali Bencheikh | MC Alger | 27 | |
| 1977 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  Tarak Dhiab | Espérance Tunis | 45 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Papa Camara | Hafia | 33 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd |  Segun Odegbami | Shooting Stars | 29 | |
| 1978 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Karim Abdul Razak | Asante Kotoko | 58 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Ali Bencheikh | MC Alger | 33 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Thomas N'Kono | Canon Yaoundé | 29 | |
| 1979 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Thomas N'Kono | Canon Yaoundé | 55 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Adolf Armah | Hearts of Oak | 23 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Kerfalla Bangoura | Horoya | 15 | |
| 1980 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Jean Manga-Onguéné | Canon Yaoundé | 64 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Segun Odegbami | Shooting Stars | 41 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Théophile Abega | Canon Yaoundé | 18 | |
| 1981 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Lakhdar Belloumi | GC Mascara | 78 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Thomas N'Kono | Canon Yaoundé | 54 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Ali Fergani | JS Kabylie | 26 | |
| 1982 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Thomas N'Kono |  Espanyol | 83 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Salah Assad | Mulhouse | 54 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Lakhdar Belloumi | GC Mascara | 36 | |
| 1983 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Mahmoud El Khatib | Al Ahly | 98 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Opoku Nti | Asante Kotoko | 89 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd |  Rafiou Moutairou | OC Agaza | 19 | |
| 1984 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Théophile Abega | Toulouse | 124 |
| 2nd | Joseph-Antoine Bell | Al Mokawloon Al Arab | 65 | ||
| Ibrahim Youssef | Zamalek | ||||
| 1985 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Mohamed Timoumi | AS FAR | 113 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Rabah Madjer |  Porto | 45 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Ibrahim Youssef | Zamalek | 39 | |
| 1986 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Ezzaki Badou | Mallorca | 125 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Aziz Bouderbala |  Sion | 88 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Roger Milla | Montpellier | 80 | |
| 1987 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Rabah Madjer | Porto | 130 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Youssouf Falikou Fofana | Monaco | 63 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | François Omam-Biyik | Laval | 52 | |
| 1988 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  Kalusha Bwalya |  Cercle Brugge | 111 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Roger Milla | Montpellier | 68 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Youssouf Falikou Fofana | Monaco | 40 | |
| 1989 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  George Weah | Monaco | 133 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Joseph-Antoine Bell | Bordeaux | 105 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Kalusha Bwalya |  PSV | 49 | |
| 1990 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Roger Milla |  Saint-Pierroise | 209 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Tahar Chérif El-Ouazzani |  Aydınspor | 64 | |
| 3rd | Rabah Madjer | Porto | 60 | ||
| François Omam-Biyik | Rennes | ||||
| 1991 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 152 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | George Weah | Monaco | 106 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | François Omam-Biyik | Cannes | 52 | |
| 1992 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 198 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 161 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Tony Yeboah |  Eintracht Frankfurt | 64 | |
| 1993 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 119 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Tony Yeboah | Eintracht Frankfurt | 117 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Rashidi Yekini | Vitória de Setúbal | 104 | |
| 1994 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 148 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting CP | 133 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Daniel Amokachi | Everton | 99 | |
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991[13] | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 206 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | George Weah | Monaco | 146 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Nii Lamptey | Anderlecht | 68 | |
| 1992[14] | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 192 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 167 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Alain Gouaméné | Raja CA | 60 | |
| 1993[15] | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Rashidi Yekini | Vitória de Setúbal | 152 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Abedi Pele | Marseille | 118 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Tony Yeboah | Eintracht Frankfurt | 98 | |
| 1994[16] | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting CP | 178 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 114 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Daniel Amokachi | Everton | 97 | |
| 1995 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | George Weah |  Milan | – |
| 1996 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Nwankwo Kanu | Internazionale | – |
| 1997 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Victor Ikpeba | Monaco | – |
| 1998[17] | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Mustapha Hadji | Deportivo La Coruña | – |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Paris Saint-Germain | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Sunday Oliseh | Ajax | – | |
| 1999 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Nwankwo Kanu | Arsenal | – |
| 2000 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Patrick M'Boma | Parma | – |
| 2001 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st |  El Hadji Diouf | Lens | – |
| 2002[18] | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | El Hadji Diouf | Liverpool | 186 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Papa Bouba Diop | Lens | 64 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | 39 | |
| 2003[19] | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | 169 |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Didier Drogba | Marseille | 68 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Bolton Wanderers | 51 | |
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Abedi Pele | Marseille | – | |
| 1993 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Rashidi Yekini | Vitória de Setúbal | – | |
| 1994 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting CP | 48 | |
| 2nd | George Weah | Paris Saint-Germain | 44 | |||
| Rashidi Yekini |  Olympiacos | |||||
| 1995 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | George Weah | Milan | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting CP | – | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Daniel Amokachi | Everton | – | ||
| 1996 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Nwankwo Kanu | Internazionale | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | George Weah | Milan | – | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Daniel Amokachi | Beşiktaş | – | ||
| 1997 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Victor Ikpeba | Monaco | 56 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd |  Japhet N'Doram | Monaco | 40 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Taribo West | Internazionale | 35 | ||
| 1998 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Mustapha Hadji | Deportivo La Coruña | 76 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Paris Saint-Germain | 74 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Sunday Oliseh | Ajax | 58 | ||
| 1999 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Nwankwo Kanu | Arsenal | 46 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Samuel Kuffour | Bayern Munich | 44 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Ibrahima Bakayoko | Marseille | 42 | ||
| 2000 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Patrick M'Boma | Parma | 123 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Lauren | Mallorca | 36 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | 29 | ||
| 2001 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | El Hadji Diouf | Lens | 93 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Samuel Kuffour | Bayern Munich | 66 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | 34 | ||
| 2002 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | El Hadji Diouf | Liverpool | 93 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Papa Bouba Diop | Lens | 46 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Ahmed Hossam Mido | Ajax | 42 | ||
| 2003 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Didier Drogba | Marseille | – | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Bolton Wanderers | – | ||
| 2004 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Barcelona | 116 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 90 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Jay-Jay Okocha | Bolton Wanderers | 68 | ||
| 2005 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Barcelona | 108 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 106 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 50 | ||
| 2006 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 79 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Samuel Eto'o | Barcelona | 76 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 36 | ||
| 2007 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Frédéric Kanouté | Sevilla | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | – | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | – | ||
| 2008 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Emmanuel Adebayor | Arsenal | 74 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Mohamed Abou Trika | Al Ahly | 53 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 36 | ||
| 2009 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 92 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Samuel Eto'o | Internazionale | 69 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Michael Essien | Chelsea | 43 | ||
| 2010 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Samuel Eto'o | Internazionale | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Asamoah Gyan | Sunderland | – | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | – | ||
| 2011 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Seydou Keita | Barcelona | – | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | André Ayew | Marseille | – | ||
| 2012 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | – | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Didier Drogba |  Shanghai Shenhua | – | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Alex Song | Barcelona | – | ||
| 2013 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | 373 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Mikel John Obi | Chelsea | 265 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Didier Drogba | Galatasaray | 236 | ||
| 2014 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | 175 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd |  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 120 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Vincent Enyeama | Lille | 105 | ||
| 2015 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 143 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Yaya Touré | Manchester City | 136 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | André Ayew | Swansea City | 112 | ||
| 2016 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Riyad Mahrez | Leicester City | 361 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 313 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 186 | ||
| 2017 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 625 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 507 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund | 311 | ||
| 2018 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 567 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 440 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Arsenal | 197 | ||
| 2019 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Sadio Mané | Liverpool | 477 | |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 325 | ||
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Riyad Mahrez | Manchester City | 267 | ||
| 2022 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Sadio Mané | Bayern Munich | align="center" | - |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | align="center" | - | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Édouard Mendy | Chelsea | align="center" | - | |
| 2023 | scope=col style="background-color: gold" | 1st | Victor Osimhen[20] | Napoli | align="center" | - |
| scope=col style="background-color: silver" | 2nd | Achraf Hakimi | Paris Saint-Germain | align="center" | - | |
| scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" | 3rd | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | align="center" | - | |
| 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 | 2 | 1 | |
| Sadio Mané | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Thomas N'Kono | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Nwankwo Kanu | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| El Hadji Diouf | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nation | Winners | Runners-up | Third places | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 8 | 10 | ||
| 6 | 8 | 7 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 4 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 0 |
