Abédi Pelé: Still Africa’s Greatest Ever Footballer

January 14th, 2008 | by: Daryl |

As we prepare to ooh and ah at the talents of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and others when the African Cup of Nations kicks off this Sunday, it’s worth remembering the first African to conquer Europe. Ghanaian attacking midfielder Abédi Pelé was blessed with ridiculously good technique, a deadly eye for goal and the confidence to take the ball and make something happen.

He’s best remembered for his two glorious spells at Marseille in the late ’80s and early ’90s (which produced all kinds of memorable goals) as well as his African Cup of Nations win with Ghana in 1982. He’s still regarded [by me] as the greatest footballer Africa has ever produced, so as we prepare for what’s surely the most star-studded African Cup of Nations ever (in terms of how familiar many of the players will be to a worldwide audience) it’s worth remembering just how much Abédi Pelé’s achievements contributed to the recent growth of African football.

Tags: Abedi Pele, African Cup of Nations

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Comments

By Etube | January 15th, 2008 at 12:21 am

Heard of Roger Milla?

Posted from United States

By tamim | January 15th, 2008 at 1:58 am

actually daryl, the first afican player to play in europe was an egyptian called hussein hegazy he played in england.even before abeidy pele was born!!!

By Magnusson | January 15th, 2008 at 2:06 am

He’s the best african player ever and would have won the ballon d’or at some point if it was opened to Africans.
george Weah and Roger Milla are also up there.
We’ll see at the end of both samuel and Didier’s career how well they’ve done for themselves.

Posted from France

By Sprinter | January 15th, 2008 at 7:50 am

tamim, he didn’t say Abedi Pele was the first African to play in Europe, just the first African player to make a huge impact on the European club game.

Posted from United States

By tamim | January 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

i know, i just wanted to add this information

By zadster | January 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Played kinda like Robinho…

Posted from United States

By Dominic | January 17th, 2008 at 2:18 pm

Abedi the greatest ever? Ever heard of a guy named George Weah?

By Omar Fahnbulleh | January 17th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Dominic,

This news outlet really know very little about African Football. The writer of this article Daryl, should be fired for not knowing who King George Weah is.

George was voted as Africa football player of the century and this little British boy who has no idea of African football must learn his football history. These are the same folks that argue that Maradona is better Pele.

By Toyuwa | January 17th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

How did this writer come up with this statement? “He’s still regarded as the greatest footballer Africa has ever produced”

African Fotie fans know that the best ever from Africa is the King. Pale’ give him the King title as Africa’s Best Ever.

Weah came close the 1st time before winning Every Award that Year. I respect Abédi Pelé game. But Weah was a force..Not only finishing but control and Power. His arial power was way above Abédi Pelé ..His Goal against Venlencia is still one of the best ever.

By Toyuwa | January 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

Hail to the King, Hail to King George true son of the Land.
” We are Playing for the Liberian People” George Weah

“George Manneh Oppong Weah”

Tittles

LFA Championship 1987
Cameroon Championship 1988
French Championship 1994
French Cup Winner 1991, 1993
and 1995
French League Cup winner 1995
European Cup winner cup finalist 1992
Italian Championship 1995 and 1999
English FA Cup 2000
Awards

African Player of the Year 1989,1994,
& 1995
European Football Player Of The Year
(1995)
Football Player of the Year – FIFA
(1995)
African Football Player of the Century
(1998)

World Best Player 1995
Weah was name world best for 1995 becoming the only African player to win the award. He was the fith recipient of the very prestigious award. The Silver trophy was won by Paolo Maldini, and the Bronze by Jurgen Klinsmann. The other four recipients were: Lothar Matthaus 91, Marco Van Basten 92, Roberto Baggio 93, and Romario in 94. Weah also won the silver trophy the following year which was won by Brazilian striker Ronaldo

African Player of the Year 1989,1994, & 1995
Weah won the African player of the year in 1989 when he was with AS Monaco and 1995 with AC Milan, the year he won almost every award a footballer could win. When he won the award in 1989, it was his first major award and he took it back home for the entire country to celebrate, similar to what he did when he won the world best title and the Onze Mondial title.

European Player of the Year 1995
Weah won the very prestigious European Player of the Year in 1995, becoming the only African to win the award. Sports writers from all aver Europe voted and awarded Weah as the best player in Europe for the year.

Onze Mondial 1995
The French Magazine name Weah as the top player in Europe for 1995.

Fifa Fair Play Award 1996

African Player of the Century
Weah was voted the African player of the Century by sport journalist from all around the world. This award puts Weah in the company of some of the greatest player to ever played the game. Pele won the same award as the South American player of the Century and Frank Beckeber as the European player of the century.

By Omar Fahnbulleh | January 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

Daryl,

You should retract your statement that Adedi Pele was Africa’s best ever player. Your statement leads me to think you know very little about football in Africa. Please read below and help me understand how you can rate Abeidi Pele as Africa’s Greatest. Abeidi Pele does not even rate higher than Roger Milla.

“George Manneh Oppong Weah”

Awards

African Player of the Year 1989,1994,
& 1995
European Football Player Of The Year
(1995)
Football Player of the Year – FIFA
(1995)
African Football Player of the Century
(1998)

Onze Mondial 1995
The French Magazine name Weah as the top player in Europe for 1995.

Fifa Fair Play Award 1996

By Toyuwa | January 17th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

By Inara | January 17th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

Omar Fahnbulleh (and Toyuwa since you’re obviously the same person): Abedi Pelé is one of the greatest African footballers and did a lot in terms of bringing an African influence into European football. Just because you think that Weah is better doesn’t mean that everyone else has too as well.

Posted from United States

By Omar Fahnbulleh | January 17th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

Inara,

You stated correctly “One of the Greatest” and I do agree with you. George Weah was the Greatest of the Great not just One of the Greatest. What bothers me is that you have some one that knows very little about Football history telling the world what was best in Africa. Not everyone that has a blog knows the facts. These days blogs are like you know what, everyone has one.

I’m not knocking Abedi Pele, but when you rank the greatest African Footballers you will start with

1. George Weah
2. Roger Milla
3. Abedi Pele

These folks are watching soccer, we are watching FOOTBALL it’s a totally different game.

By Omar Fahnbulleh | January 17th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Inara,

Omar and Toyuwa are not the same, we are friends. I led Toyuwa to this blog to read the blasphemy written here by the one called Daryl.

As much as I hate Chelsea I think Micheal Essien could one day be the Greatest if he put his mind to it.

Arsenal or Gunners for Life.

By Inara | January 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pm

Not to argue with you, but your decision to say that Weah is the best African player is your own opinion. That doesn’t mean that you know more football than someone who thinks that Pele is the best African player. It’s all a matter of perspective, and as you pointed out, this is a blog. Your comments are welcomed as is your view of why you disagree, but that doesn’t mean you should criticize someone because he has a different opinion than you.

Posted from United States

By Daryl | January 18th, 2008 at 12:45 am

Hi all,

Just wanted to cut in and make a couple of things clear. First, I fully recognize the talents of Weah and Milla and the above post celebrating Pele is not meant to take anything away from those two fine players.

As Inara points out, everyone’s favourite player is their own opinion. But it was rash of me to publish a post calling Pele the greatest ever African footballer without considering the feelings of those who disagree, and for that I very sincerely apologize, especially to Omar and to Toyuwa. I meant no offence and intended only to celebrate Pele, not to take anything away from Weah, Milla or anyone else.

By way of an apology, please see this recently published post equally celebrating the achievements of Milla, Pele and Weah.

http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-football/who-is-africas-greatest-ever-footballer.html

By Luke | January 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Tamim, Egyptians don’t consider themselves Africans but Middle Eastern especially the dorminant Arabs/Coptics. That’s really funny but since they don’t want to associate with true Africans.

By Erhuero | January 18th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Ok argument concluded but Abedi Pele did not even play in a World Cup JAY JAY did (three)& was a member of the Nigerian squad to bring Africa’s first Olympic Gold in football but I would never claim such a thing as to say he is the greatest!

By lamin | January 20th, 2008 at 10:55 am

The greatest African footballer of all time is the true, real and immortal Pele–la perla negra–of Brazil. The others are just followers. But I would put George Weah number 2 and Milla number 3. Sam E’to might jump to number 2 if he keeps going and soen’t get injured. Right now I put E’to above Kaka(overrated) and Ronaldo of Manchester United. But when in true from only E’to could match Ronaldhino, team mate at Barca.

Posted from United States

By vocalman | January 21st, 2008 at 11:03 am

where do you leave all the great nigeria footballers? we have greats like Kanu, Okocha, Amokachi, Amuneke, Finidi etc. Go get your facts very well. thank you.

By soccerlove | March 13th, 2008 at 3:22 am

daryl don’t appologize by sayin u wer rash to say this and that.. its ur own opinion and ur story.. abedi was truly a great player and didnt have as much opportunity as the others to show his full potential.. never-the-less, the name pele was not chosen by him but rather given to him.. if you believe there are other great players, so do i.. but this is someone’s opinion so dont come here and trash his story! go and write urs and then have ur arguments ther… wonderful story!! enjoyed it.. although abedi may not be the greatest african player, he certainly is A LEGEND!

Posted from United Kingdom