Toure, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, made these revelations on a BBC podcast dubbed Match of the Day Africa: Top 10.
On this weekly podcast, Toure, former Nigerian striker Efan Ekoku, and host Gabriel Zakuani draw up the top 10 and debate all things African football.
This week’s topic was an interesting one, where the three football minds drew up a list of former African greats that they felt never got the credit they deserved during their playing days.
Both Toure and Ekoku were more than glad to include Katongo, in the top 10 of Africa’s most underrated players.
Toure and Katongo’s paths first crossed during the 2012 AFCON final, where Zambia ended up lifting the trophy at the expense of a star-studded Ivory Coast side.
“Katongo had been a captain for Zambia in the past, a really good leader, he was a hard worker in this team,” Toure said. “I remember him in 2012; they were able to beat us in the final, and he led the team all the way him and Herve [Renard] my former coach, were like that—same principles, same mindset.”
Toure described Katongo as a brilliant leader and captain.
Meanwhile, Ekoku backed Toure’s view on Katongo.
“People like Christopher Katongo, if he was playing for Ivory Coast or Nigeria, maybe he would get more appreciation; he was a real leader,” Ekoku said.
Who else is on Toure’s top 10 list?
According to the list, Katongo was placed at number 10, while Serey Die of Ivory Coast was ranked number nine. Toure and Ekoku had a place for former Senegal midfielder Papa Bouba Diop, who came in at number eight.
Patson Daka’s agent and former Mali international Fredrick Kanoute came in at number seven. Former Nigerian and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo was at number six.
Cameroon’s Geremy Njitap, Stephen Apphia, and Mohamed Aboutrika of Ghana and Egypt, respectively, followed at numbers five, four, and three.
Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel and Seydou Keita of Mali formed the top two.
Katongo may never have reached some of the heights that most players in the top 10 reached, especially at club level but he had a decent career.
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He made his Chipolopolo debut on June 7, 2003, in a 2–0 win over Tanzania during the 2004 AFCON qualifier.
Katongo went on to make 103 appearances for Zambia, scoring 23 goals, before retiring in 2016.
At club level, he played locally before having ventures in South Africa, China, Denmark, and Germany.
