2023 CAF Selects A List Of Legends Of African Nations
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled a star-studded lineup of African football legends in anticipation of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire, in order to promote the tournament and enhance brand awareness of the leading continental sporting event. CAF said that the CAF Legends, made up of iconic former players, were selected based on their popularity, participation in major competitions, and social influence, among other things. He added that each member association participating in the competition is represented by one of its famous players who have a rich history in continental football, with the exception of the host country, Côte d’Ivoire, which is represented by two players. These stars will be linked to their teams and will participate in social activations throughout the competition. Defending champion Senegal will be represented by former captain Mamadou Niang, who led the “Lions of Teranga” in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. He also participated in the 2004, 2006 and 2008 editions. Among the eye-catching African legends set to join their national teams is Egyptian Ahmed Hassan, a four-time winner of the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010. The list also includes Nigerian midfielder Augustine “Jay Jay” Okocha, who won the continental title in 1994, and former Zambian captain, Christopher Katongo, who led “Chibulopolo” to continental glory in 2012. Siphiwe Shabalala will be the first player to score in the first season. The 2010 FIFA World Cup in Africa, representing South Africa, and the former captain of the Black Stars, Stephen Appiah, will represent Ghana, after having previously carried the colors of all age groups for the Ghanaian national team. List of CAF legends Total Energies Karim Ziani (Algeria) Fabrice Alspedes Maiko "Akwa" (Angola) Momouni Dagano (Burkina Faso) Heldon Ramos (Cape Verde) Joel Ebal (Cameroon) Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire) Salomon Kalou (Côte d'Ivoire) Chabani Nunda (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Ahmed Hassan (Egypt) Rodolfo Budibo (Equatorial Guinea) Pa Modou Gagne (Gambia) Stephen Appiah (Ghana) Pascal Findono (Guinea) Adama Tambora (Mali) Souleymane Ibrahim (Mauritania) Manuel Jose Luis Bukwane “Tiko Tiko” " (Mozambique) Noureddine Naybet (Morocco) Ronald Kitjigere (Namibia) Augustine "Jay Jay" Okocha (Nigeria) Siphiwe Shabalala (South Africa) Mrisho Ngasa (Tanzania) Karim Haji (Tunisia) Christopher Katongo (Zambia)
