Many of Africa’s greatest players, including Didier Drogba and Benni McCarthy, have never lifted the Africa Cup of Nations.
Here are 15 African legends who failed to add the continent’s biggest prize to their trophy cabinet.
Arguably the biggest African legend to not have been crowned African champion with his national team is Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba.
The 38-year-old reached the final twice, but lost on both occasions after missing crucial penalties – in a shootout defeat in 2006, and during extra-time before a shootout loss in 2012. What makes Drogba’s case even unluckier is the fact that Ivory Coast won AFCON 2015 just five months after their former captain retired from international football.
Similarly to Drogba, Benni McCarthy never lifted the AFCON trophy with South Africa, despite being his country’s all-time record goalscorer. He made his international debut five months after Bafana Bafana won their only AFCON title in 1996.
Ghana greats such as Asamoah Gyan
