AFCON Legends Without Gold: From Salah to Drogba, 5 Icons Who Never Won It
By: Abudu Olalekan
The Africa Cup of Nations isn’t just a tournament. Its practically a religion. You know how it goes. The noise, the dust, the pressure. It’s massive. Organised by CAF, it crown the best nation in the continent. And while everyone chase the glory, some names just never get to kiss the trophy.
Egypt dey lead the pack with seven titles. Cameroon get five. Ghana get four. Even Nigeria claim three. But what about the players? The big men? That’s where the heartbreak dey. With the 2025 edition coming to Morocco soon, we look at five absolute legends who ran out of time. From Salah to Drogba, these are the AFCON legends without gold. And trust me, the story painful.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Time dey run out. At 33, the Egyptian King knows this. He’s been runner-up twice! 2017 and 2021. Ouch. Egypt last won the thing in 2010, before Salah really blow. By the time he debut in 2017, Cameroon just chop am for final. Then 2021 happen. Senegal. Penalties. Salah was supposed to take the fifth kick. The decisive one. But he never get the chance. He just stood there. Watching. In 2023, he was injured. Watching from sideline. 2025 might be his last dance. Will he finally do am?
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Big game player? That was Drogba. Chelsea finals? He dey score. But AFCON? The script flip cruelly. He captain Ivory Coast to two finals. 2006 and 2012. Penalties kill am both times. Against Egypt, he miss. Against Zambia, he blast one over the bar. Just like that. Then the worst part happen. Ivory Coast win am in 2015. Just months after he retire. You see the pain? Its real.
George Weah (Liberia)
The only African Ballon d’Or winner. 1995. AC Milan legend. But international football? E no easy. Liberia no get the team. Weah only qualify twice. 1996 and 2002. Group stage. Done. He score just once. You wonder how? But he win later o. He become President of Liberia. From pitch to palace. But that AFCON medal? No show.
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
Elegant. Intelligent. Kanu win Champions League. Arsenal legend. Olympic Gold in 96. But AFCON? 2000. Home soil. Final against Cameroon. Penalties again. Kanu miss. Nigeria lose. He get bronze, he get silver. But no gold. Its one of those things.
Michael Essien (Ghana)
The heart of Ghana. Powerful. Disciplined. But injury just dey follow am. He miss 2006. 2008, he take third. 2010? He get injury midway as Ghana reach final. He watch them lose to Egypt. Fitness problem just cut short him career. Another brilliant player never rewarded with the gold.
Football is cruel sometimes. You be legend, you get talent, but the trophy refuse to come. These five guys gave everything. But the AFCON gold? It just wasn’t written for them.
