CAF has announced a star-studded lineup of African football legends for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, aiming to promote the tournament and boost its brand awareness.
The African football governing body says the CAF Legends, comprising iconic former players, were selected based on their popularity, participation in major competitions, and social influence, among others.
“Each Participating Member Association (PMA) is represented by one of their famous players who has a rich history in continental football, with the exception of hosts Cote d’Ivoire with two. They will be attached to their teams and will be involved social activations around the tournament.”
Representing the hosts are former captain and two-time CAF Player of the Year, Didier Drogba, and former midfielder Salomon Kalou.
Holders Senegal will be represented by former captain Mamadou Niang, who led the Teranga Lions at the 2012 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon & Equatorial Guinea. He was also present in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Christopher Katongo who led Zambia to their first-ever AFCON trophy in 2012 will represent Zambia.
BELOW IS THE FULL LIST OF CAF LEGENDS
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)
Christopher Katongo (Zambia)