Greatest African Sports Stars of All Time

Kenyan·Athletics

Eliud Kipchoge

Kenyan long-distance runner widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, first person to run a marathon in under 2 hours in 2019.

2 Olympic golds

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2

HG

Ethiopian·Athletics

Haile Gebrselassie

Ethiopian long-distance runner widely regarded as one of the greatest distance runners in history, holding 27 world records during his caree

2 Olympic golds

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3

KB

Ethiopian·Athletics

Kenenisa Bekele

Ethiopia's most decorated male athlete — world record holder at 5,000m and 10,000m and marathon runner of extraordinary longevity.

3 Olympic golds

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4

DD

Ivorian·Football

Didier Drogba

Ivorian striker who became Chelsea's greatest ever player, scoring 164 goals in 381 appearances and leading them to their first Champions Le

338 career goals · 65 international goals

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5

SE

Cameroonian·Football

Samuel Eto'o

Africa's greatest footballer of his era — four-time African Player of the Year and Champions League winner with Barcelona and Inter Milan.

478 career goals · 56 international goals

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6

JO

Nigerian·Football

Jay-Jay Okocha

So good they named him twice — PSG's Nigerian wizard whose skill and flair made him one of football's most entertaining players.

14 international goals

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7

MS

Egyptian·Football

Mohamed Salah

Egyptian footballer and Liverpool winger, known for his prolific goal-scoring, pace, and being one of the greatest African players in Premie

363 career goals · 71 international goals

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8

SM

Senegalese·Football

Sadio Mané

Senegalese footballer who won the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, leading Senegal to their first Africa Cup of Nations t

294 career goals · 39 international goals

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9

HO

Nigerian/American·Basketball

Hakeem Olajuwon

Nigeria-born champion widely considered the finest centre of the 1990s and the greatest shot-blocker in NBA history.

2× champion · 21.8 ppg career

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10

TD

Ethiopian·Athletics

Tirunesh Dibaba

Ethiopian long-distance runner, three-time Olympic champion and multiple world record holder in 5000m and 10000m events on track and cross c

3 Olympic golds · 7 world titles

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11

NK

Nigerian·Football

Nwankwo Kanu

Nigerian striker who overcame heart surgery to win Champions League with Ajax, Olympic gold, and became Arsenal legend known for dramatic go

12 international goals

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12

YT

Ivorian·Football

Yaya Touré

Ivorian midfielder who won the Champions League with Barcelona and Premier League with Manchester City, known for his powerful box-to-box pl

156 career goals · 19 international goals

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13

KT

Ivorian·Football

Kolo Touré

Fearless Ivorian defender who was a key figure in Arsenal's 'Invincibles' season and later won the Premier League with Manchester City.

14 career goals · 4 international goals

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14

AG

Ghanaian·Football

Asamoah Gyan

Ghana's all-time leading scorer whose missed penalty against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup became one of football's most painful near-miss m

51 international goals

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15

RM

Algerian·Football

Riyad Mahrez

Leicester City's PFA Player of the Year during his miraculous 5000-1 title win and Manchester City's Champions League winner.

222 career goals · 29 international goals

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16

SK

South African·Rugby Union

Siya Kolisi

The first Black Springbok captain — World Cup winner in 2019 and 2023, a symbol of a transformed South Africa.

82 caps · 9 tries

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17

EE

South African·Golf

Ernie Els

The Big Easy — four majors across two decades and one of the most elegant swings in golf history.

4 majors · 91 weeks at No.1

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18

GP

South African·Golf

Gary Player

The Black Knight — one of only five players to complete the career Grand Slam.

9 majors · 163 tour wins

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19

AO

Moroccan·Football

Azzedine Ounahi

Energetic and technically gifted Moroccan midfielder whose standout 2022 World Cup performances earned him a move to one of Europe's biggest

nominated 2022× Ballon d'Or

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20

VM

Nigerian·Football

Victor Moses

Versatile Nigerian winger who won the Champions League with Chelsea and gave outstanding service to Nigeria across multiple tournaments.

69 career goals · 12 international goals

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21

JK

Congolese·Basketball

Jonathan Kuminga

Explosive young Congolese forward whose athleticism and scoring potential have made him one of the Golden State Warriors' most exciting deve

2022× champion

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22

OA

British / Nigerian·Basketball

OG Anunoby

Elite two-way wing of British-Nigerian heritage whose lockdown defence and evolving scoring made him one of the NBA's most coveted forwards.

2019× champion

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23

PS

Cameroonian / Canadian·Basketball

Pascal Siakam

Athletic and versatile Cameroonian-Canadian forward who developed from raw prospect to NBA champion and one of the league's most complete po

2019× champion

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24

MM

Kenyan·Athletics

Mary Moraa

Kenyan middle-distance runner specializing in 800m, world champion in 2023 and one of the most promising athletes in women's middle-distance

2023 world titles

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25

RC

Kenyan·Athletics

Ruth Chepngetich

Kenyan marathon runner who holds the women's marathon world record of 2:09:56 set at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, making her the fastest femal

2023 world titles

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26

SB

Ethiopian·Athletics

Selemon Barega

Ethiopian long-distance runner who won Olympic 10,000m gold in Tokyo 2021 and set world record of 26:11.02 in 10,000m in 2022, establishing

1 Olympic golds · 2019 world titles

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27

TA

Ethiopian·Athletics

Tigst Assefa

Ethiopian marathon world record holder whose stunning Berlin performance in 2023 smashed the women's world record by over two minutes, signa

2023 world titles

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28

TC

Kenyan·Athletics

Timothy Cheruiyot

Kenyan middle-distance runner specializing in 1500m, world champion in 2019 and Olympic silver medalist in 2021, known for tactical racing

2019 world titles

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29

AA

Ethiopian·Athletics

Almaz Ayana

Ethiopian long-distance runner who set the world record in the women's 10,000m at the 2016 Olympics with a time of 29:17.45, winning Olympic

1 Olympic golds · 2015 world titles

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30

AA

Ghanaian·Football

André Ayew

Versatile Ghanaian forward and son of Abedi Pelé who has served the Black Stars with distinction across multiple tournaments and generations

25 international goals

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31

JK

South African·Cricket

Jacques Kallis

South African cricket all-rounder widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history with over 13,000 Test runs and 292

13289 Test runs · 55.37 Test avg

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32

SM

Senegalese·Football

Sadio Mané II

From a village without electricity to Champions League winner — Africa's Player of the Year and a champion with Senegal.

296 career goals · 39 international goals

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33

HA

South African·Cricket

Hashim Amla

South African cricket batsman known for being the fastest player to reach 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 runs in ODI cricket history.

9282 Test runs · 46.64 Test avg

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34

AD

South African·Cricket

AB de Villiers

South African cricket legend known as 'Mr. 360' for innovative batting, exceptional wicket-keeping, and extraordinary fielding across all fo

8765 Test runs · 50.66 Test avg

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35

SK

Ivorian·Football

Salomon Kalou

Ivorian footballer who won the 2012 Champions League with Chelsea and starred for Ivory Coast in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.

200 career goals · 28 international goals

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36

GS

South African·Cricket

Graeme Smith

South Africa's most capped Test captain and a formidable opening batsman.

9265 Test runs · 48.25 Test avg

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37

AP

Ghanaian·Football

Abedi Pelé

Ghana's greatest ever footballer and African Player of the Year three times — a key figure in Marseille's Champions League triumph in 1993.

175 career goals · 33 international goals

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38

DV

South African·Rugby Union

Duane Vermeulen

South African number eight and World Cup final man-of-the-match in 2019, a powerful carrying force and outstanding defensive leader whose in

82 caps · 12 tries

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39

DD

South African·Rugby Union

Damian de Allende

South African centre whose powerful carrying, physical dominance in contact and consistency across international and club rugby have made hi

78 caps · 12 tries

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40

KP

British/South African·Cricket

Kevin Pietersen

South African-born English cricketer, one of England's greatest batsmen known for his aggressive style and crucial role in 2005 Ashes victor

8181 Test runs · 47.28 Test avg

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41

SA

Moroccan·Athletics

Said Aouita

Moroccan middle and long-distance runner who dominated the 1980s, setting multiple world records and winning Olympic gold in the 5000m at Lo

1 Olympic golds · 2 world titles

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42

JV

South African·Rugby Union

Joost van der Westhuizen

South Africa's greatest scrum-half and a World Cup winner in 1995, whose electric service, powerful running and tragic death from motor neur

89 caps · 38 tries

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43

PD

South African·Rugby Union

Pieter-Steph du Toit

South African loose forward and 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year whose exceptional versatility, outstanding ball-carrying and elite defen

95 caps · 2× World Cup

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44

BH

South African·Rugby Union

Bryan Habana

77 Test tries — the joint world record holder for Test tries by a back.

124 caps · 67 tries

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45

HP

South African·Rugby Union

Handré Pollard

South African fly-half and World Cup-winning goal-kicker whose composure under pressure, reliable boot and smart game management were centra

80 caps · 540 points

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46

MM

South African·Rugby Union

Malcolm Marx

South African hooker widely regarded as the most explosive number two in the game, whose extraordinary athleticism, ability to play as a loo

70 caps · 2× World Cup

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47

FD

South African·Rugby Union

Faf de Klerk

South African scrum-half who formed the half-back partnership at the heart of the Springboks' 2019 World Cup triumph, known for his quick se

60 caps · 2× World Cup

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48

VM

South African·Rugby Union

Victor Matfield

The finest lineout forward in rugby history — two World Cup winner with South Africa.

127 caps · 12 tries

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49

VO

Nigerian·Football

Victor Osimhen

Nigerian striker who won the 2023 Serie A title with Napoli, becoming the league's top scorer and earning African Player of the Year honors

141 career goals · 24 international goals

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50

FK

Kenyan·Athletics

Faith Kipyegon

Kenyan middle-distance runner, three-time Olympic 1500m champion and world record holder, widely considered the greatest female 1500m runner

3 Olympic golds

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