The UEFA Champions League is considered the biggest competition in European football. Established in 1955, the competition has gained the hearts of football players and fans.
This article delves into African players who have achieved success by winning the prestigious competition with their respective clubs.
1. 1983/84: Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe) – Liverpool
Grobbelaar is considered a pioneer of African Champions League winners being the first to win the prestigious competition in the 1984 European Cup final against AS Roma set the stage for future African players to shine on Europe’s grandest stage.
2. 1986/87: Rabah Madjer (Algeria) – FC Porto
Madjer became the second African player to win the Champions League, scoring a memorable backheel goal to help FC Porto secure a victory over Bayern Munich.
3. 1992/93: Abedi Pele (Ghana) – Olympique de Marseille
Ghanian legend sailed Olympique de Marseille to their first and only Champions League title, playing a pivotal role in the team’s success.
4. 1994/95: Finidi George and Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria) – Ajax Amsterdam
The Nigerian legends were integral members of the young, exciting Ajax team that conquered Europe in the mid-90s, defeating AC Milan in the final.
5. 1996/97: Ibrahim Tanko (Ghana) – Borussia Dortmund
Although Tanko did not feature in the final, he was part of the Borussia Dortmund squad that won the Champions League, defeating Juventus in the final match.
6. 1999/00 and 2000/01: Geremi (Cameroon) and Samuel Kuffour (Ghana) – Real Madrid and Bayern Munich
Geremi claimed two Champions League titles with Real Madrid, while Kuffour won the prestigious trophy with Bayern Munich. Both players were key contributors to their respective teams’ successes.
7. 2003/04: Benni McCarthy (South Africa) – FC Porto
South Africa’s finest footballer, McCarthy, won the Champions League with José Mourinho’s FC Porto, contributing crucial goals en route to the final.
8. 2004/05: Djimi Traoré (Mali) – Liverpool
Traoré was part of Liverpool’s historic “Miracle of Istanbul” team that came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat AC Milan in a penalty shootout.
9. 2005/06, 2008/09, and 2009/10: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – FC Barcelona and Inter Milan
Eto’o holds the distinction of being the African player with the most Champions League titles, winning the competition thrice – twice with FC Barcelona and once with Inter Milan.
10. 2008/09: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast) and Seydou Keita (Mali) – FC Barcelona
Touré and Keita were part of Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering FC Barcelona team that won multiple trophies, including the 2008/09 Champions League title.
11. 2009/10: Sulley Muntari (Ghana) and McDonald Mariga (Kenya) – Inter Milan
Muntari and Mariga were members of José Mourinho’s treble-winning Inter Milan squad, with Mariga becoming the first Kenyan player to win the Champions League.
12. 2011/12: John Obi Mikel (Nigeria), Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), and Michael Essien (Ghana) – Chelsea
These African stars played crucial roles in Chelsea’s first-ever Champions League triumph, with Drogba scoring the decisive penalty in the final against Bayern Munich.
13. 2017/18: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – Real Madrid
Hakimi, a promising young talent, was part of the Real Madrid squad that won their third consecutive Champions League title in the 2017/18 season.
14. 2018/19: Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mané (Senegal), Joel Matip (Cameroon), and Naby Keita (Guinea) – Liverpool
These African stars were instrumental in Liverpool’s sixth Champions League title, with Salah and Mané scoring crucial goals throughout the campaign.
15. 2020/21: Edouard Mendy (Senegal) and Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) – Chelsea
Mendy and Ziyech became the latest Africans to win the prestigious trophy, joining an elite group of footballers from the continent.
16. 2022/23: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – Manchester City
Mahrez also joins the list of African Champions League winners by lifting the trophy with Manchester City in the 2022/23 season. Known for his prowess in the right wing and ability to shoot from range, his contributions on the field were instrumental in helping Manchester City secure their first-ever Champions League title.
