Top 24 in 2024. The best African footballers of the year according to Dailysports
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
2024 is heading toward its conclusion, and it will undoubtedly be remembered for many football events. As the year draws to a close, it’s customary to reflect, and our team has decided to join in on this trend.
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We’ve prepared a series of articles highlighting the best footballers from each continent in 2024, titled “Top 24 in 2024.” The Dailysports team begins with the best players from Africa.
24. Nayef Aguerd (Morocco, West Ham / Real Sociedad)
The start of the year was mixed: both for Morocco's national team and West Ham, the defender remained a regular starter but failed to achieve significant success, partly due to injuries that hindered his progress. In the summer, he moved to Spain, where he quickly became a key player for Real Sociedad. Currently, it’s rare for the coach not to allow Nayef to play the full 90 minutes, and his club is rapidly emerging as a contender in the race for the UEFA Champions League.
23. Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria, Milan)
Now playing for Milan, where he has managed to establish himself in the starting lineup. He played 33 matches last season and 19 this season. He also helped Nigeria’s national team reach the final of AFCON 2024, where he scored one goal, though they fell short of the title. In the current season, he has scored three goals, compared to just one in the previous campaign.
22. Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco, Monaco)
The young Moroccan defender for Monaco is showing impressive football for a 19-year-old. While he was not a regular starter last season, he is now an integral part of the team. This season, he has played 23 matches, scoring five goals and providing three assists. He has already played more minutes this season than he did during the entirety of the last. His contributions were crucial as Monaco finished second and returned to the UEFA Champions League. At AFCON 2024, he played all four matches, scored two goals, but his team was eliminated in the Round of 16.
21. Sébastien Haller (Ivory Coast, Borussia D / Leganes)
The 30-year-old forward is currently on loan at Leganés, but his contract belongs to Borussia Dortmund. For the "Black and Yellows," he played just 19 matches and scored three goals. In the Spanish team, he has featured in nine matches without scoring a single goal. So why is he in our ranking? Haller became the hero of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. Sébastien scored the decisive goals in both the semifinal and the final, leading Côte d’Ivoire to claim the title.
20. Franck Kessié (Ivory Coast, Al Ahli Jeddah)
The second consecutive Côte d’Ivoire player on this list. For the past two seasons, he has been playing in Saudi Arabia, where he is a key midfielder for Al-Ahli. Last season, he played 33 matches across all competitions and scored 10 goals. Currently, he has 20 matches and two goals to his name. However, winning a title with Al-Ahli remains elusive. Last season, they finished third, and this year, they are sitting in fifth place. At the Africa Cup of Nations, he played all seven matches, scored two goals, and was one of the key players who helped Côte d’Ivoire lift the trophy.
19. Ousmane Diomande (Ivory Coast, Sporting Lisbon)
The young central defender of Sporting Lisbon has become a key figure in the Portuguese team's defense. Last season, he played 38 matches, and this season he has already featured in 18 games, despite missing three weeks in October due to injury. A cornerstone of Sporting's backline, he played a crucial role in helping the club win the Portuguese league title last season. Additionally, he became an Africa Cup of Nations champion, though he was not a regular starter in the tournament and only played two games. However, it seems likely that he will soon become a key figure in Côte d’Ivoire’s defense.
18. Mohammed Kudus (Ghana, West Ham)
The West Ham midfielder has been making waves in the Premier League over the past two seasons. He is an indispensable part of the current "Hammers" squad. Last season, he played 48 matches across all competitions and scored 18 goals. This season, he has already featured in 12 matches, contributing two goals and two assists. It's hard to imagine West Ham's attack without him. In the last Africa Cup of Nations, he played two matches and scored two goals.
17. Yves Bissouma (Mali, Tottenham)
Another Premier League representative, Bissouma plays for London-based Tottenham. He is one of the key players in the Spurs' midfield. Last season, he made 28 appearances, and this season he has already played 18 matches, scoring two goals. Bissouma has become an integral part of the London side this campaign. On average, he makes over two tackles and one interception per game, solidifying his role as a vital cog in Tottenham’s midfield engine.
16. Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal, Marseille/Crystal Palace)
The Senegalese winger, now playing for Crystal Palace, previously spent last season at Marseille. At Marseille, he played 35 matches across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing six assists. He has also settled in well at his new team and competition, becoming a regular starter. This season, Ismaïla has played 18 matches, scoring one goal and providing one assist. He has a strong influence on the attack and is a key figure in Crystal Palace's offense.
15. Nicolas Jackson (Senegal, Chelsea)
Chelsea’s central striker may not look back fondly on last season, but he is now a crucial part of the Blues' attack. Last season, he played 44 matches for the London club, scoring 17 goals. This season, in 15 appearances, he has already scored eight goals and provided three assists. Jackson has shown significant growth as a player over the past year, transforming from a wasteful finisher into a genuinely dangerous striker for Chelsea. Although Nicolas has yet to win a trophy with Chelsea or the Senegal national team, it feels like only a matter of time.
14. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon, Napoli)
The central midfielder for Napoli is the anchor of the team's midfield. Despite Napoli finishing 10th in the table last season, Zambo Anguissa delivered exceptional performances, leaving no doubts about his quality. Following the arrival of Antonio Conte as head coach, the Cameroonian midfielder has maintained his place as a starter. This season, he has played 17 matches, averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game. A key figure in Napoli's midfield, he was instrumental in helping them win the Serie A title in the 2021/22 season.
13. Evan Ndicka (Ivory Coast, Roma)
The central defender for Roma and Côte d’Ivoire has become indispensable for both club and country. Last season, he played 34 matches for Roma, and this season, he has already featured in 20 games. Ndicka excels in tackles and interceptions and played a pivotal role in Côte d’Ivoire's Africa Cup of Nations victory, appearing in all seven matches of the tournament. In the knockout stages, the team conceded only three goals and kept a clean sheet once.
12. Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco, Bayern/Manchester United)
Last season, Mazraoui played for Bayern Munich but struggled to secure a regular starting spot. In the summer, he moved to Manchester United, where he has featured more prominently. For Bayern, he played 29 matches last season, and this season, he has already made 23 appearances for the Red Devils. On average, he makes three tackles and one interception per match. Offensively, he has also contributed to United's attack, providing two assists so far.
11. Brahim Díaz (Morocco, Real Madrid)
The Moroccan player has fought his way into the starting lineup at Real Madrid. Last season, he played 44 matches for Los Blancos across all competitions, scoring eight goals in La Liga and two in the UEFA Champions League. He was a vital component of the team that helped Real Madrid win the Champions League. Over the summer, the team also claimed the UEFA Super Cup and the La Liga title. Although Brahim did not participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, he has solidified his spot in the starting XI. In the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Díaz scored seven goals in four matches. This season, he has played 15 matches for Real Madrid, scoring one goal and providing three assists.
10. Omar Marmoush (Egypt, Eintracht Frankfurt)
The Egyptian forward playing in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt has established himself as a key player for the team. Last season, he played 41 matches, scoring 17 goals. However, the second half of 2024 has been a true breakout period for Omar Marmoush. This season, the Egyptian has already featured in 22 matches for Eintracht, scoring 18 goals and providing 11 assists.
Marmoush is currently the Bundesliga’s top assist provider. In fact, he is carrying Eintracht, with the team sitting second in the table, trailing the leader by just six points. Omar is also excelling in Europe, having scored four goals and delivered two assists in the Europa League, where Frankfurt currently holds fifth place.
9. André Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United)
The Cameroonian goalkeeper joined Manchester United last season, but it was far from ideal. A series of errors had a significant impact on the Red Devils' results. However, as the season progressed, he began to improve and deliver strong performances. Consequently, he played 51 matches last season, keeping 13 clean sheets. His improved form in the second half of the season helped United win the FA Cup.
This season, Onana has already played 22 matches and continues to display consistently excellent form, recording seven clean sheets so far. On average, he makes 2.6 saves per game. In the Premier League, he has a save rate of 70.2%, while in the Europa League, it stands at 66.7%. Despite Manchester United’s inconsistent performances, Onana has remained a steady presence.
For his national team, Onana is Cameroon’s first-choice goalkeeper. He played six matches in the qualification campaign for AFCON 2025, keeping clean sheets in four of them and conceding only two goals overall. Cameroon finished first in their group and will compete in the AFCON finals.
8. Iñaki Williams (Ghana, Athletic Bilbao)
Considered a legend at Athletic Bilbao, Iñaki Williams has displayed remarkable consistency on the field for many years. Last season, he played 39 matches for the Basque club, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists. Iñaki was instrumental in helping Athletic win their first Copa del Rey in 40 years.
On their path to the title, they defeated Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Sevilla, ultimately triumphing over Mallorca in the final via a penalty shootout. Williams featured in five Copa del Rey matches, contributing two goals and two assists.
This season, Williams has already played 22 matches, scoring eight goals and delivering four assists. Athletic currently sits in the UEFA Champions League spots and occupies second place in the UEFA Europa League standings.
7. Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso, Bayer Leverkusen)
Tapsoba is arguably the prototype of the modern central defender. He combines height, speed, strength, and technical ability. Having joined Bayer Leverkusen five years ago, the Burkinabé defender firmly established himself in the starting lineup. Under the management of Xabi Alonso, Tapsoba has become a key component of the new-look Leverkusen side.
Last season, he played 46 matches for the "Pharmacists" and contributed to their phenomenal campaign. Leverkusen remained unbeaten in both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, winning both titles. They also reached the UEFA Europa League final but fell to Atalanta. This season began with another trophy – the German Super Cup.
Tapsoba has already featured in 23 matches this season, averaging 1.5 tackles and 0.7 interceptions per game. While he has yet to win a major trophy with the Burkina Faso national team, Tapsoba remains a reliable starter and continues to deliver impressive performances.
6. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, Stuttgart / Borussia Dortmund)
The central striker for Borussia Dortmund made his name last season with Stuttgart. He played 30 matches and was instrumental in helping Stuttgart secure a top-three finish in the Bundesliga for the first time in years, finishing as runners-up. Stuttgart also reached the DFB-Pokal final, though they were defeated by Leverkusen’s dominant side. Despite the loss, Guirassy’s individual achievements were remarkable, scoring 30 goals in 30 matches.
By the way: Africa Cup of Nations 2025: All Qualified Teams
In the summer, Guirassy moved to Borussia Dortmund and has continued to shine, becoming a key figure in the team. He has already scored 12 goals in 17 matches this season. For the Guinea national team, his impact at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations was limited, but he has been crucial in the qualifiers for the next edition, scoring six goals in four matches.
5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
Hakimi is indispensable to Paris Saint-Germain's current setup. Last season was another strong one for the Moroccan full-back. In 40 matches, he recorded 12 goal involvements—five goals and seven assists. He added another Ligue 1 title and a Coupe de France to his collection and helped PSG reach the UEFA Champions League semifinals, where they narrowly missed out on a place in the final after a loss to Borussia Dortmund.
At the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, Hakimi played four matches, scoring once and providing an assist, but Morocco was eliminated in the Round of 16. His next chance for international silverware will come at the 2025 tournament, hosted in Morocco.
This season, Hakimi has continued his excellent form, playing 18 matches for PSG and contributing nine goal involvements. As PSG transitions following the departures of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar, Hakimi remains a vital figure, with his influence and importance to the team steadily growing.
4. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli / Galatasaray)
Following his phenomenal and championship-winning 2022/23 season, the past campaign was disappointing for Napoli, finishing 10th in the league. Despite the team's struggles, Osimhen remained consistent even though he was sidelined for a significant time with injuries. Upon his return, he continued to find the back of the net, scoring 17 goals in 32 matches across all competitions.
At the start of the summer, his future was uncertain. Chelsea pursued him seriously but ultimately failed to secure his signature. Osimhen, unwilling to stay at Napoli, moved to Turkish giants Galatasaray. While injuries continue to trouble him, he remains a key figure in their attack, delivering whenever he plays. So far, he has scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 13 matches this season.
Osimhen’s resilience and ability to adapt have kept him in the spotlight, even in a less competitive league. He plans to finish the season in Turkey, but it’s likely he will become a coveted target for many top clubs in the summer transfer window.
3. Victor Boniface (Nigeria, Bayer Leverkusen)
Another standout from Bayer Leverkusen, Boniface had a sensational debut season with the German club. In his first year, he played 34 matches, scored 21 goals, and provided 10 assists. His contributions were pivotal in Leverkusen's Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal triumph, where he scored two goals in three cup matches.
While the Africa Cup of Nations was not as impactful for Boniface, he was part of the team that reached the final, although they fell short of the trophy. He made one appearance and registered an assist during the tournament.
This season, the 22-year-old continues to shine for Leverkusen, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in 15 matches. With his remarkable start to his career and immense potential, Boniface seems destined for a stellar future if he maintains this level of performance.
2. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
Since joining Atalanta, Lookman has become an indispensable figure for the Italian side. Although the start of last season wasn’t spectacular, the second half was extraordinary, culminating in a masterclass performance in the UEFA Europa League final. Lookman scored a hat-trick, securing Atalanta their first international trophy and their first title since the 1962/63 season. Across 45 matches, Lookman tallied 17 goals and 10 assists. Atalanta finished fourth in Serie A, earning a return to the UEFA Champions League.
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This season, Lookman has continued to shine, scoring 11 goals in 19 matches. In Serie A, he is the fourth-highest scorer with eight goals and four assists, playing a key role in Atalanta's push to become legitimate title contenders. His contributions on the international stage were also impressive at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals in seven matches and reached the final, though his team fell short of the trophy.
1. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Undoubtedly the best African footballer of 2024. Last season, Salah played 44 matches for Liverpool, scoring 25 goals and providing 14 assists. Following the season, Jürgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool, leading many to expect a decline in the team’s form. However, Salah’s exceptional performances ensured the Reds maintained their momentum.
This season, Salah has been phenomenal, scoring 16 goals in 22 matches, already on track to surpass his previous totals. He leads the Premier League in both the scoring charts and goal contributions, with 13 goals and nine assists. Salah’s leadership and brilliance have propelled Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table and the UEFA Champions League standings. The Reds are favorites in every competition they are participating in, largely thanks to Salah’s consistent excellence.
Last season, Salah added the EFL Cup to his collection, but he is yet to win a title with Egypt. His national team was eliminated in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, Egypt has qualified for the next edition, with Salah contributing two goals in three qualification matches.
While his future at Liverpool remains uncertain, one thing is clear—wherever Salah continues his career, he will deliver goals and top-quality performances.
