The race for another Africa Cup of Nations has begun, with 48 nations starting their campaigns to secure a place at the 2027 tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The first two rounds of the qualifiers are being played between 24 September and 6 October, with the teams divided into 12 groups of four as the road to the continental showpiece gets under way.
As a new generation begins its journey towards AFCON, it is also an opportunity to look back at some of the players who helped shape the competition in previous years.
Among them are several African legends who enjoyed distinguished international careers, won major honours and made their mark at the continent’s biggest tournament — yet never scored in an AFCON finals match.
Here are five of the most notable.
5. Didier Zokora — Ivory Coast
Didier Zokora was a central figure in Ivory Coast’s emergence as one of Africa’s leading football nations.
The midfielder represented the Elephants at six AFCON tournaments and became known for his defensive discipline, ball-winning ability and composure in possession.
Zokora’s contribution was rarely measured in goals, but his longevity and importance to the Ivorian midfield made him one of the defining players of his generation.
Despite his six tournament appearances, he never found the net at an AFCON finals.
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4. Ismaël Bennacer — Algeria
Ismaël Bennacer provides a more modern example of the unusual record.
The Algeria midfielder was one of the outstanding players of the 2019 AFCON, helping the Desert Foxes lift the trophy in Egypt and earning the Player of the Tournament award.
He has since remained an important part of Algeria’s midfield and has appeared at four AFCON tournaments.
Despite his influence and ability to contribute in the attacking phases of the game, Bennacer is yet to score at an AFCON finals. His record could still change, however, with the midfielder remaining an active international player.
3. Youssef Chippo — Morocco
Youssef Chippo was one of Morocco’s most accomplished midfielders of his generation, combining technical ability with a strong presence in the centre of the pitch.
He represented the Atlas Lions at the 1998 World Cup and enjoyed a distinguished club career that included spells with Porto and Coventry City.
Chippo made 11 appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations and scored nine goals for Morocco during his international career. Remarkably, however, none of those goals came at the AFCON finals.
That makes his inclusion particularly interesting: a midfielder who found the net regularly for his country, but never during Africa’s biggest international tournament.
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2. El Hadji Diouf — Senegal
El Hadji Diouf is arguably the most surprising name on this list.
The Senegalese forward was twice named African Player of the Year and became one of the continent’s most recognisable attacking players during the early 2000s.
He was instrumental in Senegal’s run to the 2002 AFCON final and represented the Teranga Lions at four editions of the tournament.
Diouf scored 24 goals for Senegal during his international career, but his goal tally at the AFCON finals remained at zero.
For a player with his reputation and attacking pedigree, that remains one of the more unusual statistics of his career.
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1. Nwankwo Kanu — Nigeria
Nwankwo Kanu completes the list as one of the greatest African forwards of his generation.
The Nigerian icon appeared at six AFCON tournaments and was twice named African Player of the Year. His remarkable club career included Champions League success with Ajax and major honours with Arsenal.
Kanu was renowned for his technique, intelligence and ability to produce decisive moments, particularly in the biggest matches.
Yet the AFCON finals were an exception. Despite his long association with the competition and six tournament appearances, Kanu never scored a goal at the finals.
The five players on this list represent different generations and different roles, but they share the same unusual distinction.
Zokora became one of Ivory Coast’s most experienced midfielders without scoring at the tournament. Bennacer was named Player of the Tournament during Algeria’s 2019 triumph but remains without a finals goal. Chippo scored nine times for Morocco without finding the net at an AFCON finals.
Diouf and Kanu, meanwhile, are the biggest surprises: two celebrated African forwards whose international careers included major tournament moments but no AFCON finals goal.
As the road to AFCON 2027 gets under way, a new generation of African stars will now have the opportunity to write their own names into the tournament’s history.
