Source: Daily_Mail
The List: The 50 best African players in history Nos 30-21
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is the greatest African footballer of all time? Ghanaian Abedi Pele arguably became the continent's first superstar in the late eighties, but there have been a host of candidates since, among them George Weah, Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba. And who can forget the cheeky grin and goalscoring prowess of Roger Milla? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Pele predicted an African nation would win the World Cup by the year2000. That didn't happen, but stars from the continent have neverthelessthrilled for decades.[LNB]And with the Africa Cup of Nations underway in Angola, the latestepisode of The List trumpets the greatest players from the continent inhistory.[LNB]FromGhana's Abedi Pele to 'King' George Weah, Africans have wowed the worldwith their pace, dazzling ball control and athleticism.[LNB]Week after week we toil over our selections, and like nothing more than hearing your thoughts.[LNB]Asa caveat for the eagle-eyed out there, Mozambique-born Portugueselegend Eusebio does not feature as our List only concerns those born inAfrica who played for an African nation.[LNB]Read Nos 50-41Read Nos 40-3130) Phil Masinga (South Africa)The former Leeds United striker, 'Chippa' made 39 appearances duringhis two-year stint in the Premier League, netting 11 times beforemoving to Switzerland and Italy where he enjoyed a successful spellwith Bari.[LNB]The former South Africa international represented his country 58 times,scoring 18 goals - the most important of which came against Congo ashis strike sent Bafana Bafana to the World Cup Finals in France 1998. [LNB] Masinga: In action here against Denmark at the 1998 World Cup finals[LNB]29) Sunday Oliseh (Nigeria)The tough-tackling no nonsense central midfielder enjoyed successfulcareer with Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus throughout the 1990sand has only recently retired.[LNB]Oliseh made 63 appearances and scored four goals for Nigeria,participating in the World Cups of 1994 and 1998 and will be foreverremembered for his winning goal in the group stage match against Spainin the 1998 World Cup, a game Nigeria won 3-2.[LNB] A moment to treasure: Sunday Oliseh celebrating his winning goal for Nigeria against Spain at the 1998 World Cup finals[LNB]28) Geremi (Cameroon)There's no pressure on him but all Geremi needs to do is win thissummer's World Cup with Cameroon and he'll have won everything there isto win in the game.[LNB]League titles in Spain and England with Real Madrid and Chelsea, twiceChampions League winner with Real, plus Olympic and African titles withthe Indomitable Lions - Geremi has done the lot, well, almost.[LNB]Still at 31, the holding midfielder is in no way guaranteed a place at this summer's World Cup. [LNB] What a lot of pots he's won: Geremi in action for Cameroon against Egypt in 2008[LNB]27) Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe)This particular Brucie might not be found on Saturday night TV hostingdancing competitions but he will forever be remembered for someinteresting leg movements.[LNB]The Zimbabwean stopper won six leagues titles, three FA and League Cupsduring his 14 years at Anfield but it was his leg-shaking antics duringthe European Cup Final penalty shoot-out that Liverpool fans bestremember him for.[LNB]Surprisingly, the former Crewe, Stoke, Southampton and Plymouth keepermanaged just 33 international appearances in 19 years for Zimbabwe.[LNB] Liverpool legend: Grobbelaar celebrates title success in 1981[LNB]26) Mahmoud El Khatib (Egypt) [LNB]'Bibo' was his nickname and as every child in England wants to be WayneRooney or Fernando Torres when playing football, all Egyptian kidswanted to be El Khatib in the 1970s and 80s.[LNB]Khatib (right) won it all - the Egyptian League title eleven times, theEgyptian Cup six times, the African Cup Winner's Cup three times, andthe African Champions League twice with his club Al-Ahly. Phew![LNB]He was also voted the best player in Egypt five times during his career.[LNB]25) Cyril Makanaky (Cameroon)There are certain names that stick with you, names that are synonymouswith a time, place or event that you never forget - and the Cameroonsquad that arrived at the World Cup in Italy in 1990 gave us several -Milla, Omam-Biyik and Makanaky.[LNB]Cyril Makanaky , along with Milla and Omam-Biyik were part of theIndomitable Lions team that went close to reaching the semi-finals ofthe World Cup.[LNB] Golden years: Cyril Makanaky was part of the Cameroon team that charmed the world in 1990[LNB]24) Rabeh Madjer (Algeria) Certain players define an country's footballing era and the 1980s were all about Madjer for Algeria. [LNB]A regular up front for the national side, he appeared at successiveWorld Cups - 1982 and 1986 - but he will be best remembered for the back-heel he scored in the Champions League final of 1987 duringPorto's 2-1 win over Bayern Munich.[LNB] Madjer: A huge star for Algeria[LNB]23) Sulley Muntari (Ghana)Muntari only spent a year with us here in the Premier League - a yearin which he was a regular alongside other African stars; Kanu and PapaBouba Dioup as Portsmouth's season culminated with their FA Cup victoryover Cardiff at Wembley.[LNB]Certainly a rough diamond, Muntari's undoubted talent as a midfieldball-winner has been tempered by a number of clashes with the nationalside's management, leading to his recent exclusion from the Africa Cupof Nations tournament after failing to turn up for a warm-up match withAngola. [LNB] Muntari: clashing with George Olofinjana during Ghana's clash with Nigeria in 2008[LNB]22) Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia)A true icon of football in Africa, Bwayla was the driving force behindfootball in his native Zambia and was part of Bobby Robson's highlysuccessful PSV side that won back-to-back titles in the late 80s andearly 90s.[LNB]His greatest achievement with the national side was his hat-trickagainst Italy at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and he was also nominatedfor World Player of the Year in 1996.[LNB] Icon: Kalusha Bwalya in action for Zambia against Tunisia in 1998[LNB]21) Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria)A rare talent, Amokachi was signed by Everton' manager Mike Walker for £3m in the summer of 1994 after a successful spell in Belgium with Bruge but, despite some cracking goals, he failed to hit the heights in the Premier League.[LNB]He was instrumental in helping the Toffees lift the FA Cup in 1995 after his brace against Spurs in the semi-final but he was forced into leaving after it was made clear to him that Paul Rideout and Duncan Ferguson were first choice up front.[LNB]A real character of the pitch who had his own private jet for a time played 42 matches for Nigeria and was part of the team that participated in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, won the 1994 African Cup of Nations title and was a member of the team that won Olympic gold in 1996 after beating Argentina in the final.[LNB] Nigeria favourite: Daniel Amokachi played in his second World Cup finals in 1998[LNB] [LNB]The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail's top 50 Premier League players of the decadeSportsmail's top 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail's top 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroes [LNB]
