For some of Africa's greatest footballers, the continent's most coveted prize remained a haunting absence, as brilliance and team glory did not always converge.
- Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria): The two-time African Footballer of the Year competed in six AFCONs, securing four bronze medals and one runners-up finish, but never the trophy.
- George Weah (Liberia): Africa's only Ballon d'Or winner often funded his nation's team himself but could only manage group-stage exits in his two AFCON appearances.
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt): A modern icon, Salah has reached two AFCON finals (2017, 2021) with Egypt, losing both in dramatic fashion, leaving the trophy as his final frontier.
- Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast): The icon of his nation's golden generation lost two AFCON finals on penalties, retiring just a year before the Elephants finally won in 2015.
- Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo): The 2008 African Footballer of the Year faced the reality of leading a minor footballing nation, with his best run ending in the quarter-finals.
- Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast): The legendary striker held the AFCON scoring record for 38 years but never won it, finishing third and fourth in the tournaments where he was top scorer.
- Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia): He courageously led Zambia to the 1994 final a year after a tragic plane crash, only to fall to Nigeria in a heartbreaking defeat.
- Frédéric Kanouté (Mali): The elegant 2007 African Footballer of the Year led Mali to a fourth-place finish but could not guide them to a final during his tenure.
- Michael Essien (Ghana): Injuries plagued his AFCON journey; he missed much of the 2010 tournament, including the final, due to a critical fitness absence.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon): Despite winning the 2015 African Footballer of the Year award and co-hosting twice, his best run was a quarter-final exit.
Sources: Leadership Newspaper, Complete Sports
