The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have announced a star-studded lineup of African legends for the AFCON, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, to promote the tournament and enhance its brand awareness, www.aclsports.com reports.
The CAF Legends are made up of iconic former players who were selected based on their popularity, participation in major competitions, and social influence among others.
In a bid to have some inclusivity, each Participating Member Association (PMA) is represented by one of their famous players who has a rich history in continental football, except hosts Cote d’Ivoire with two. They will be attached to their teams and will be involved in social activations around the tournament.
Two-time CAF Player of the Year, Didier Drogba, and former winger Salomon Kalou, continental winner with the side in 2015, will be flying high the colours of ‘Les Elephants’ of Cote d’Ivoire. As for Nigeria, Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha, who won the continental trophy in 1994, was selected to lead from the front and he will be hoping his support can lead the team all the way.
Holders Senegal have former captain Mamadou Niang, who led the Teranga Lions at the 2012 AFCON in Gabon & Equatorial Guinea. He was also present in 2004, 2006, and 2008. Former Zambia captain, Christopher Katongo who won the title with the side in 2012, stays in front for the Chipolopolo.
Siphiwe Tshabalala, the first player to score in Africa’s first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2010 is the representative of South Africa just as former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, who represented Ghana at all age groups.
List of African Legends unveiled by CAF
Karim Ziani (Algeria), Fabrice Alcebiades Maieco “Akwa” (Angola), Moumouni Dagano (Burkina Faso), Heldon Ramos (Cape Verde), Joel Epalle (Cameroon), Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire), Salomon Kalou (Cote d’Ivoire), Shabani Nonda (DR Congo), Ahmed Hassan (Egypt), Rodolfo Bodipo (Equatorial Guinea), Pa Modou Jagne (Gambia), Stephen Appiah (Ghana), Pascal Feindouno (Guinea), Bocundji Ca (Guinea-Bissau), Adama Tamboura (Mali), Souleimane Brahim (Mauritania), Manuel Jose Luis Bucuane “Tico Tico” (Mozambique), Nourredddine Naybet (Morocco), Ronald Ketjijere (Namibia), Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha (Nigeria), Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa), Mrisho Ngassa (Tanzania), Karim Haggui (Tunisia), and Christopher Katongo (Zambia).
