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.