**Mohamed Salah: The consecration of a pillar of African football**
On January 3, 2025, the announcement of the results of the vote for the 2024 Africa d’Or trophy resonated like a familiar tune in the ears of football fans. Once again, Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian icon, was crowned “best African player of the year”. But beyond the simple result of a vote, this triumph raises deeper questions about the evolution of African football, the impact of stars on their European clubs, and the future prospects for other prized talents on the continent.
### Salah’s unstoppable rise
The numbers speak for themselves: 33 goals and 26 assists in a single year of competition. By comparison, Salah has made a total of 59 decisive contributions. To put this in perspective, these statistics place him among the best strikers in the history of football, not only African, but world. The comparison is all the more striking when we talk about other great players of the time. Indeed, legends like Samuel Eto’o or Didier Drogba, who are often cited as the best African players, have not experienced such domination in a league as competitive as the Premier League, where every match is a test of nerves.
### A strong symbolism
Salah’s success transcends the numbers. It represents a significant step forward for African football. By becoming the most decisive foreign player in the Premier League with 250 career contributions, he paves the way for other young African talents. His journey is an inspiring model, fueling the hope that many African players can shine on the European stage.
In 2024, Salah also consolidated his status as the top African scorer in history in the UEFA Champions League. This double achievement is symptomatic of a positive trend: the emergence of competitive African football on the front line.
### A changing ecosystem
This result comes at a time when many African countries are investing heavily in training young players. Training centres, such as those in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and South Africa, are starting to bear fruit, with players like Sébastien Haller and Nicolas Jackson among the rising stars. The podium also highlighted Serhou Guirassy and Brahim Diaz, highlighting that African football is not limited to a single star.
### Thoughts on the vote
Over 100,000 fans participated in the vote, a figure that highlights the growing engagement of supporters. This raises the question of the impact of the community on player recognition. Comparing the results, the difference in votes between Salah and his competitors highlights a strong admiration, but also the need for a diversity of opinions for a better representation of African talents..
Players like Chancel Mbemba and Sebastien Haller, who occupy fourth and fifth place respectively, show that there is a wealth of talent that deserves to be nominated. At the same time, the results show a trend towards personalizing fan engagement with their players, something that European clubs must take into account in order to consolidate their fanbase in Africa.
### Conclusion
Mohamed Salah’s victory at the Africa d’Or Trophy should bring joy to millions of fans across the continent. More than just a celebration of one player, this event marks a significant turning point for African football. Salah, through his exceptional talent, is paving the way for a new generation of African footballers. In the meantime, eyes turn to the future and what the next chapter of African football has in store. The voices of fans, analysts and leaders, all emanating from this rich continent, promise to fuel the dream of African football one day dominating the world stage.