Is Mo Salah the GOAT of African football? He believes he is, but has immense respect for Liberia’s George Oppong Weah, who remains the only one to have been crowned the Ballon d’Or winner from Africa.
Didier Drogba was idolised at Stamford Bridge and could be considered someone who increased the British interest in African footballers in the mid-2000s. Samuel Eto’o won it at all levels with Barcelona and Cameroon, making him an unforgettable footballer.
Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure won 4 African Footballer of the Year Awards successfully, and he is undoubtedly the best box-to-box African midfielder of the 21st century. He made Manchester City so thick and solid and must be credited every moment for the club’s success, just like Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany.
Salah did not even mention the Ghanaian great, Abedi Pele, who was named after the great Brazilian forward Pele because of his immense and unbelievable talent for club and country.
Aside from the midfield and the forwards, Sammy Osei Kufuor, who spent 12 successful seasons with Bayern Munich, could also stand up and slap his chest and say, I’m the GOAT of African football because I am the only one from this continent to have played actively for 12 years for one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
What about the Nigerian dribbling master, Austin Jay Jay Okocha? Can we forget Roger Miller, the master, who was unplayable at the twilight of his career?
An argument to arrive at who Africa’s Best Player of All Time is would demand metrics, and Salah will not be ahead.
As the GOAT of African football, you must be the player with the most African Footballer Awards. You must win AFCON at least once. You must have won the Ballon d’Or like Oppong Weah did, but failed to win the AFCON.
The Egyptian king, in an interview with France Football’s Ballon d’Or, was asked a series of questions. When he was quizzed about who is the Best African Footballer of All Time, the gifted forward jokingly replied, “Me.”
He continued, “There are so many. I would say Didier [Drogba], [Samuel] Eto’o, and George Weah.”
Africa is a continent that has produced top-notch footballers whom the connoisseurs of the game will find it difficult to choose one.
Salah undoubtedly has made a huge name for himself in England after helping Liverpool to win two EPL trophies. The Premier League trophy eluded the Reds for over 3 decades, and he played a major role in taking the club to the holy grail.
Mohamed Salah, in terms of achievement, is not the number one. Mo Salah, in terms of skills, is not the number one. Mo Salah, in terms of numbers (goals contribution), is not the number one. So what makes him the GOAT? Opinions are to be respected, but Salah is not the GOAT of African Football.
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