Since the 2000s, the ceremony of CAF Awards, better known as African Golden Ball created in the 1970s and which rewards each year the best African player playing in a professional club, has taken a new turn. This prestigious trophy has seen many African Football stars who have remained at the top of the ladder for several years of their career. Return to the podiums of recent years to retrace the history of this emblematic award.
The podium of legends at the African Ballon d’Or from 2002 to 2024
This table highlights the domination of certain players and certain nations. The legendary Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o and Ivorian midfielder Yaya Touré with their four coronations, are the most successful players in the history of the African Ballon d’Or. Cameroonian and Ivorian players have long monopolized the top places on the podium, before seeing new generations of talent emerge. Thus, since 2002, the competition has always been tough each year with a highly contested African Ballon d’Or podium.
The finalist trio for the African Golden Ball each year is made up of the most talented players who have been at the top of their level both for club and national team.
An exceptional 2024 edition
The 2024 edition of the African Ballon d’Or was particularly contested. They were so close that the organizers decided not to decide between the five finalists on the podium. Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian striker, was finally named winner at the big CAF Awards 2024 ceremony, but the other contenders, Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa), have all shone this year.
Also, apart from the winner, the rank occupied by each of the four other players competing for this title has not yet been revealed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The podium of African Ballon d’Or legends since 2002
2002
1st: El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
2nd: Pape Bouba Diop (Senegal)
3e: Mido (Egypte)
2003
1er : Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun)
2nd: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
3e : Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
2004
1er : Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun)
2nd: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
3e : Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
2005
1er : Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun)
2nd: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
3rd: Michael Essien (Ghana)
2006
1st: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
2e : Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun)
3rd: Michael Essien (Ghana)
2007
1st : Frédéric Omar Kanouté (Mali)
2nd: Mickaël Essien (Ghana)
3rd: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
2008
1er: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
2e: Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)
3rd: Michael Essien (Ghana)
2009
1st: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
2e : Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun)
3rd: Michael Essien (Ghana)
2010
1er : Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun)
2e: Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
3rd: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
2011
1st: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2e: Seydou Keita (Mali)
3e: André Ayew (Ghana)
2012
1st: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2nd: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
3e : Alexandre Song (Cameroun)
2013
1st: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2nd : John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)
3rd: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
2014
1st: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2e : Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
3e : Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
2015
1er : Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
2nd: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
3e: André Ayew (Ghana)
2016
1st: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
2e : Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
3rd: Sadio Mané (Senegal)
2017
1er : Mohamed Salah (Egypte)
2nd: Sadio Mané (Senegal)
3e : Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
2018
1er : Mohamed Salah (Egypte)
2nd: Sadio Mané (Senegal)
3e : Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
2019
1st: Sadio Mané (Senegal)
2e: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
3rd: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
2022
1st: Sadio Mané (Senegal)
2e: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
3rd: Edouard Mendy (Senegal)
2023
1er : Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
2e: Achraf Hakimi (Maroc)
3e : Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
2024
1st : Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
2e: —
3e : —
