Africa’s greatest-ever players at the FIFA World Cup, Asamoah Gyan places 2nd
A look at five of the greatest players to represent Africa at the FIFA World Cup.
5. Samuel Eto’O, Cameroon
The legendary Cameroonian made his debut at the World event in the 1998 edition in France when he was the youngest player at the tournament at 17.
Samuel Eto’o Fils of Cameroon. AFP
He went on to play in the 2002, 2010 and 2014 editions after the Indomitable Lions missed out on the 2006 edition.
Cameroon made not have made much of an impact at the World Cup, but Eto’O’s three goals make him one of the highest scorers from Africa in the tournament’s history.
4. Jay Jay Okocha, Nigeria
The late Rashidi Yekini and Ahmed Musa, Nigeria’s all-time top scorers at the World Cup, will always be remembered when Nigeria’s participation at the World Cup is concerned.
Okocha and Raul Gonzalez of Spain in France 1998. AFP
But Jay Jay Okocha and his performances at the 1998 edition in France remain one of Africa’s most iconic displays at the global event.
Nigeria didn’t go far at the tournament but Okocha was a standout performer and his brilliance against Denmark in the round of 16 remains a key talking point.
Regarded as one of the most skilful players to come out of the continent, he remains the holder of the most completed dribbles in the single World Cup game, 15.
3. El-Hadji Diouf, Senegal
The former Liverpool man and Africa footballer of the year made it to just one FIFA World Cup during his active years and left a marker.
El-Hadji Diouf was the star of the 2002 World Cup for Senegal. AFP
In 2002, the Teranga Lions of Senegal made their debut at the World Cup and shocked the world as they became the latest African nation to make it to the last eight.
The match against defending champions, Les Bleus, remains ever-green. Diouf proved a thorn in the flesh of France, with his incredible dribbling and fearlessness.
He created the chance that led to the shocking winner by another Senegal superstar, Bouba Diop.
Diouf, who joined Liverpool after his performance at Korea and Japan in 2002, was an inspiration for the Lions as they shocked the world before leaving at the quarter-final stage, after an extra time loss to Turkey.
2. Asamoah Gyan, Ghana
While he’s fondly remembered for his penalty miss against Uruguary at the 2010 World cup, Asamoah Gyan, is one of Africa’s biggest performers at the World Cup.
Gyan is Africa’s all-time scorer at the World Cup and inspired the Black Stars to their first appearance in 2006 and then, a historic quarter-final ticket four years later.
Asamoah Gyan scores Ghana’s first-ever goal at a World Cup against Czech Republic in 2006 AFP
The quarter-final stage ended in defeat for Ghana after Gyan famously missed a decisive last-minute penalty against Luis Suarez’s Uruguay.
Gyan scored six goals across three World Cup tournaments for Ghana, an African record.
1. Roger Miller, Cameroon
Top of this list is one of Africa’s greatest-ever players, Roger Miller, who lit up the World Cup at the 1990 edition.
Roger Miller was famous for his incredible dance steps after scoring a goal. AFP
Miller scored an incredible four goals at the Italia 90 to inspire Cameroon to the quarter-final at the age of 38.
The Indomitable Lions became the first African nation to reach the last eight, with Miller and his goals the inspiration.
Miller became the oldest player to feature at the World Cup at the time, a feat that lasted until 2014 when Faryd Mondragon, 43, beat his record in Brazil.
Four years later, Miller, scored against Russia in the 1994 edition in the USA, becoming the oldest scorer in the competition’s history at 42.
Source: PulseNigeria
