African footballers to win Champions League, AFCON titles

By Peter Ochieng

The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious club competitions any player plying his trade in Europe dreams of winning.

History shows that African players have been part and parcel of most Champions League winning sides, over the years.

We take a look at African footballers privileged to have won both the Champions League and the Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) crowns.

6. Riyad Mahrez

The Algerian international guided his national team to the 2019 AFCON title, with the Desert Foxes defeating the Teranga Lions of Senegal 1-0 in the final, in Egypt.

He was part of the Manchester City squad that won the Champions League in 2023, before joining Al-Hilal in the Saudi Arabia Professional League.

5. Edouard Mendy

One of the two Senegalese players in the list.  Mendy’s heroics in goal guided Chelsea to the 2020/2021 Champions League crown, under Germany tactician Thomas Tuchel – who is now in charge of the England national football team.

Fresh from winning the Champions League, Mendy’s contribution was key as Senegal won the first AFCON title, beating Egypt via post-match penalties in Cameroon. He was crowned the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper left Chelsea in 2023 to join Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.

4. Sadio Mane

In 2019, Senegal failed to win the AFCON title, losing 1-0 to Algeria in the final. Led by their talisman Sadio Mane, the Teranga Lions were back two years later for the West African nation’s first title in history.  

Before the AFCON success, Mane had led Liverpool to the Champions League title triumph, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the 2018/2019 final.

Like Mahrez and Mendy, Mane plies his trade in Saudi Arabia.

3. John Obi Mikel

The former Nigerian midfielder was on song in 2013, when his Super Eagles team won the AFCON title, courtesy of a hard fought 1-0 win over a determined Burkina Faso side in the final.

He was a central figure in the Chelsea side that surprisingly won the Champions League title in 2011/2012, under Italian manager, Roberto Di Mateo.

2. Yaya Toure

The Ivorian won the Champions League title with Barcelona in 2008/2009, under current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

He then captained his Ivory Coast side to the 2015 AFCON crown.  

1. Samuel Eto’o

One of the best footballers born and bred in Africa. Of course, only the best can play for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea in an illustrious career.

That literally makes him the most successful player in this list. The current Cameroonian football association president is the only African player to win three Champions League crowns – two with Barcelona and one with Inter Milan.

To add the icing on the cake, Eto'o won two AFCON titles with Cameroon – in 2000 and 2002.