In recent times, the ability of an African player to be adjudged the best player by the FIFA governing body has become very rare as some of the most acknowledged African footballers on the international terrain have been sidelined for the Ballon D'or award category.
We are all witnesses to the likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto and players like Micheal Essien make a prestigious mark for African football but failing to top it up with the Ballon D'or award title.
Even as we speak, the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohammed Sallah, Wilfred Zaha and Hakim Ziyech are all doing their best but it seems their efforts have not been recognized yet as they still race for the prestigious title.
At the moment, it's quite uncertain why African players are sidelined for the topmost level of award-winning athletes but it's safe to say it could probably be the high level of competition they are faced with each and every year.
Inferring from the current generation of European footballers on the international and their recent performances and achievements, pulling strings together to emerge as one of the few African players to accredited with the B'allon D'or award will be one of the most exceptional records for the continent.
Divergent to this fact, there is one African player who has been widely recognized as the first footballer from the African soil to win a B'allon D'or award in his hay days as a footballer.
This player is none other than George Oppong Weah. He is a Liberian international and currently the President of Liberia who served the country from 2015 to 2018 before being succeeded by Saah Joseph.
Prior to his presidency, Oppong Weah served as senator from Montserrado County. Historically, he is the first professional footballer to become President of a country in Africa.
George Weah began his football career in Liberia and went to play for numerous football clubs in France for more than thirteen years.
While playing for the Liberian national team, he played in two different African Cup of Nations tournament and was one of the most talented players to have ever played at the World Cup.
In the year 1995, Oppong Weah made history by winning the FIFA Player Of The Year award and eventually winning the Ballon D'or award which makes him the first African player to win the award in the history of African football.
Content created and supplied by: AramKay (via Opera News )
COMMENTS