worldtrending2475 Best African Footballer of All Time You Must Know
Football or soccer began in England in 1863 with rules by the Football Association
However, it was also banned in Scotland. The Football Act 1424 was passed out by the parliament of Scotland in the reign of James I. Playing football in Scotland was forbidden by the King and punishable by a fine of four pence.
In 1863 when the Football Association was established, the specification of the ball were not quality for playing for another eight years. Due to the Association rules use in governing football so they decided that football will be played in 90mins. This duration was established in 1866.
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Football wasn’t popular until they decided that playing football in schools will be compulsory. After the introduction of playing football in public schools.
The Football Association established 50 member clubs Iggy years it was founded. Football was played in UK until Netherlands and Denmark also formed their own football in 1889 followed by New Zealand in 1891, Argentina in 1893, Chile, Switzerland and Belgium in 1895, Italy in 1898, Germany and Uruguay in 1900.
The Fèdèration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was also established in France (Paris) in 1904 with its founding members includes Belgium, Denmark, France, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and Switzerland. The then FIFA President Stanley Rous wrote the laws of football and put rational to them in 1886 and were reestablished in 1997.
FIFA congress was held in the year 2007 which was recorded that FIFA had 208 members throughout the World.
Football was later introduced in Africa in the year 1860s by the British, Belgian, French and Portuguese our colonial masters.
The first ever football to be played in Africa was between the Soldiers and Civil servants in South Africa and they weren’t using any rules at that time.
In October 26,1863, the Football Association introduced the rules governing football.
Pietermaritzburg county Football Association was the first official football organization in Africa in 1880. South Africa Football Association (SAFA) was the first national governing body on the African continent in 1882 followed by the North Africans; Algeria and Egypt.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was founded in 1957.
Sudan was the founder if African Football by establishing four members under them: Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sudan.
Africa have had a lot of great footballers since it football was introduced by their colonial masters. Best footballers like Samuel Eto’o, Abedi Ayew (Pele), Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Nwankwo Kanu, George Oppong Weah, Jay Jay Okocha, Micheal Essien, John Mikel Obi, Asamoah Gyan, Seydou Keita, Roger Milla, Kalisha Bualya, Essam El – Hadary and many many best talented African footballers.
Today I will like to talk about only 5 African best footballers of all time.
I know it will be debatable because everyone has the one he or she likes most but at the end of the article, you will realize that I wasn’t far from the truth.
Samuel Eto’o Fils
Samuel Eto is a Cameroonian retired professional footballer who played as a striker during his time of playing football. Samuel Eto’o Fils was born in Cameroon, Douala in March 10, 1981.
He started his football career as a Youth player in Kadji Sports Academy in 1992 – 1996 and in 1996 – 1997 he moved to Spain, Madrid to join Real Madrid youth team.
Samuel Eto’o played a lot of teams, scoring a lot of goals for his clubs and country. He played for big clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Sampdoria, Everton.
He scored 293 goals in 587 appearance for his club. He won a lot of trophies including the UCL with Barcelona. Samuel Eto’o played 118 games and scored 56 goals for his country, winning the 2000 and 2002 African Cup Of Nations. Samuel Eto’o is recognized as one of the best African footballers of all time.
George Oppong Weah
George Oppong Weah is a former retired Liberian footballer born in October 1, 1966 at Clara Town, Liberia. He is the only African player to have won the FIFA World Player of the year.
During his time of playing football, Weah played for a lot of big clubs in Europe which includes Paris Saint – Germain winning a lot of trophies and becoming the top goal scorer of the 1994 – 95 UEFA Champions League, AC Milan, Chelsea, Monaco, Manchester City, Olympique Marseille and later signed with Al Jazira.
He retired at the age of 37 years in 2003. George Weah played 478 games scoring 193 goals. George Weah is recognized as one of the best African footballers of all time.
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba is recognized as one of the best African Footballer Of all time. Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian retired footballer born in March 11, 1978 at Abidjan, La Cote d’Iviore. He is the all-time top goal scorer and a former captain for his country.
He is recognized as a legend in Chelsea football club after scoring an equalize goal between Chelsea and Bayern leading them to lift the UEFA Champions League in 2014.
He played for top clubs in Europe like Chelsea, Olympique Marseille, Galatasary. Didier Drogba scored about 300 career goals in Europe and he lifted 4PL trophies, 4FA cups, 3 English cups, 2 Community shields and a UEFA Champions league winner. He won African player of the year award two times. Didier Drogba recognized as one of the best African footballers of all time.
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a Cameroonian retired footbaer born on 20th May, 1952 at Yaounde, Cameroon. Roger Milla played a lot of teams during his playing days and scored a lot of goals.
He played for Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint Etienne. He played 666 matches scoring 405 goals in Europe. He also played 77 matches for his country scoring 43 goals.
Roger Milla was recognized in international football at the age of 38 scoring four goals at the 199p FIFA World Cup becoming the oldest goalscorer in the history of World Cup.
He later broke his own record as the oldest goalscorer in the World Cup at the age of 42 scoring against Russia in the 1994 World Cup. Roger Milla won twice African player of the year and won the Nations cup twice with Cameroon. Roger Milla is recognized as one of the best African Footballer of all time.
Abedi Ayew
Abedi Ayew popularly known as Abedi Pele is a retired Ghanaian footballer born on November 5, 1964 at Kyebi. He started his football career in 1980 at Real Tamale United and moved on to All Sadd, Zurich, Niort, Olympique Marseille, Lyon, Torino, 1860 Munich.
He played 476 matches and scored 159 goals for his club.
Abedi Pele played 73 matches for the Black Stars of Ghana national team, scoring 35 goals. He has won the France football African player award 3 times and the winner of the BBC African sports star of the year in 1992 and Confederation of African football twice. Abedi Pele is recognized as one of the best African footballers of all time.
Written by Oppong Isaac
