The CAF Awards, Africa's premier football accolades, have long celebrated the continent's best talents.
Since its inception in 1992, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have recognized outstanding players, teams, and coaches, with the Men’s Player of the Year award standing out as the most prestigious prize.
From George Weah’s brilliance in the mid-1990s to Ademola Lookman’s recent triumph in 2024, the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award has chronicled the evolution of African football.
This article provides a comprehensive list of winners, explores the award’s storied history, and highlights those who have won multiple times.
History of the CAF Awards: Player of the Year
CAF introduced the Men's Player of the Year Award (also known as the Africa Footballer of the Year Award) in 1992 to honor Africa’s finest footballers annually. However, the concept of recognizing Africa’s best players predates CAF’s involvement.
Between 1970 and 1994, France Football magazine organized the African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award, which was similar to its Ballon d’Or but specifically for African players.
During this era, legendary players like Abedi Pele and George Weah were celebrated for their contributions to African football. However, with the Ballon d’Or expanding to include non-European players in 1995, France Football discontinued its African award, leaving the spotlight solely on CAF.
Aside from the years 2020 and 2021, when the award ceremonies did not take place on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAF Player of the Year award has consistently honored players whose performances at club and international levels have set them apart.
Who has won the CAF Player of the Year (Men) Award multiple times?
Several players have etched their names in CAF Awards history with multiple wins. Among them, Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Touré stand out as record holders, each with four titles.
Eto’o claimed his awards in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010, while Touré’s dominance came consecutively from 2011 to 2014.
Other notable multiple winners include El Hadji Diouf, Didier Drogba, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Nwankwo Kanu, who have two each.
Complete list of CAF Player of the Year (Men) Winners (1992–till date)
Below is the full list of winners of the CAF Player of the Year award since its inception:
1990s:
- 1992: Abedi Pele (Ghana – Marseille, France)
- 1993: Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria – Vitória Setúbal, Portugal)
- 1994: Emmanuel Amuneke (Nigeria – Sporting CP, Portugal)
- 1995: George Weah (Liberia – AC Milan, Italy)
- 1996: Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria – Inter Milan, Italy)
- 1997: Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria – Monaco, France)
- 1998: Mustapha Hadji (Morocco – Deportivo La Coruña, Spain)
- 1999: Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria – Arsenal, England)
2000s:
- 2000: Patrick M’Boma (Cameroon – Parma, Italy)
- 2001: El Hadji Diouf (Senegal – Lens, France)
- 2002: El Hadji Diouf (Senegal – Liverpool, England)
- 2003: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon – Mallorca, Spain)
- 2004: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon – Barcelona, Spain)
- 2005: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon – Barcelona, Spain)
- 2006: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast – Chelsea, England)
- 2007: Frédéric Kanouté (Mali – Sevilla, Spain)
- 2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo – Arsenal, England)
- 2009: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast – Chelsea, England)
2010s:
- 2010: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon – Inter Milan, Italy)
- 2011: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast – Manchester City, England)
- 2012: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast – Manchester City, England)
- 2013: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast – Manchester City, England)
- 2014: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast – Manchester City, England)
- 2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon – Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
- 2016: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria – Leicester City, England)
- 2017: Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Liverpool, England)
- 2018: Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Liverpool, England)
- 2019: Sadio Mané (Senegal – Liverpool, England)
2020s:
- 2022: Sadio Mané (Senegal – Bayern Munich, Germany)
- 2023: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria – Napoli, Italy)
- 2024: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria – Atalanta, Italy)
