Salah ranked ahead of Osimhen but below Kanu

Nigerian rapper Ladipoe sparked online debate after revealing his personal ranking of Africa’s greatest strikers, a list that placed Mohamed Salah above Victor Osimhen, but still below legends Nwankwo Kanu and Samuel Eto’o.

The rapper’s comments came just as CAF announced its 10-man shortlist for the 2025 African Player of the Year, reigniting discussions about Africa’s finest football icons across generations.

In a playful “this or that” interview, Ladipoe was asked to pick between Africa’s top forwards, past and present.

He ranked Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah higher than Victor Osimhen, Didier Drogba, Sadio Mané, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, George Weah, and Riyad Mahrez, but said that Samuel Eto’o and Nwankwo Kanu still stood above the Egyptian superstar in terms of greatness.

The rapper noted that the likes of Weah, Mane, Drogba, and Aubameyang were crucial to improving Africa’s footballing reputation; they were still not as pivotal as Salah.

However, while Salah dominates Europe statistically, the emotional and cultural legacy of icons like Kanu and Eto’o continues to hold a special place among African fans who watched them inspire an entire generation.

Beyond fan debates, the CAF 2025 Men’s Player of the Year shortlist has officially confirmed Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Salah, and Achraf Hakimi as frontrunners.

Salah’s numbers remain breathtaking, with 29 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League, leading Liverpool to the title while winning both the Golden Boot and Playmaker Award.

Meanwhile, Hakimi’s trophy cabinet speaks for itself: a Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophée des Champions in a single season with PSG, plus nine goals and 14 assists from right-back.

Osimhen, Nigeria’s sole nominee, powered Galatasaray to a domestic double and earned the Turkish Player of the Season Award, underlining his growing stature as one of Africa’s deadliest forwards.

Despite missing out on CAF’s top honour last year to Ademola Lookman, his consistency at club and international level has reignited calls for recognition.