AFCON players who never won the trophy include Salah, Drogba, Kanu and Essien, despite iconic careers for club and country
As Africa prepares for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, attention has turned to iconic players whose international careers ended without lifting the continent’s biggest prize.
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The Africa Cup of Nations, organised by the Confederation of African Football, remains the flagship men’s football tournament on the continent.
Egypt lead the roll of honour with seven titles, followed by Cameroon with five, Ghana with four and Nigeria with three.
Despite its prestige, the competition has denied several African greats a winner’s medal.
With the 2025 edition scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, BBC Sport Africa has highlighted five legends whose AFCON dreams ended in heartbreak.
Egypt captain Mohamed Salah heads the list of AFCON players who never won the trophy.
Now 33, Mohamed Salah has twice finished as runner-up, losing finals in 2017 and 2021.
Egypt’s last triumph came in 2010, before Salah became a global star.
Injuries ruled him out of key moments, including AFCON 2023, and the upcoming tournament may represent his final chance to complete his international legacy.
Ivory Coast great Didier Drogba also fell short despite thriving on football’s biggest stages.
Didier Drogba captained the Elephants in the 2006 and 2012 finals, missing penalties in both campaigns.
In a cruel twist, Ivory Coast finally won AFCON in 2015, shortly after his international retirement.
Liberia’s George Weah, Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner, was limited by his country’s modest football pedigree.
Liberia qualified for AFCON only twice during his career and exited at the group stage on both occasions.
Weah later served as Liberia’s president from 2018 to 2024, carving a historic legacy beyond football.
Former Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu also endured AFCON disappointment.
Nwankwo Kanu came closest in 2000 when Nigeria lost the final on penalties to Cameroon on home soil.
Despite multiple semi-final appearances and Olympic gold in 1996, AFCON glory eluded him.
Ghana’s Michael Essien completes the list.
Michael Essien was central to a gifted Black Stars generation but suffered persistent injuries.
He missed AFCON 2006, captained Ghana to third place in 2008, and watched from the sidelines as Egypt beat Ghana in the 2010 final.
Their stories underline the fine margins of AFCON success and the unforgiving nature of international football.
Also read: EFL confirms Carabao Cup semi-final draw as City face Newcastle
As Morocco 2025 approaches, the tournament again promises glory for some and lingering regret for others.
