Sports
Top 15 African countries and their highest paid football stars
Football in Africa is not just a sport but a means of earning an income. The game has helped many out of poverty while the continent has produced numerous football stars who have helped their Western football clubs win notable titles.
Like any career, these African footballers earn more than others [See our list of the top highest-paid African footballers in 2024].
Below are some top African countries and their highest-paid football stars:
1. Algeria: Riyad Mahrez – £865,000 weekly
Riyad Mahrez is a highly accomplished Algerian winger born on February 21, 1991, and currently 33 years old (as of February 21, 2024).
He currently plays for both the Algerian national team (as captain) and Saudi club, Al-Ahli (since July 28, 2023).
Mahrez has won the Premier League Champion five times with the English team, Manchester City.
He signed for Manchester City in 2018, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup in his first season.
The Algerian skipper later won one FA Cup, two EFL Cups, and a UEFA Champions League in 2022–23 as part of a continental treble whilst at City.
Meanwhile, he was initially part of the Leicester City team that won the Premier League title in 2016, the first time in club’s 132-year history.
The Algerian winger was involved in more goals than any other Premier League player during the 2015-2016 season.
He scored 17 goals for the Foxes, only four players (Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku) scored more; he also made 11 assists, again, only four players (Mesut Ozil, Christian Eriksen, Dusan Tadic and Dimitri Payet) provided more.
Mahrez was involved in 40% of Leicester City’s goals on their march to the Premier League title.
Other accomplishments include:
- 2019 African Cup of Nations Winner
- 2016 African Footballer of the Year
He earns £865,000 weekly at the Saudi Arabian club, Al-Ahli, hence the highest-paid Algerian player.
2. Senegal: Sadio Mane – £650,000 weekly
Sadio Mané is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Senegal national team.
He is considered one of the best players of his generation and among the greatest African players of all time.
Mane has won numerous trophies throughout his career, including the Premier League, Champions League, and Africa Cup of Nations. He is also Senegal’s all-time top scorer.
He earns £650,000 weekly at Al Nassr following his move from Bayern Munich in 2023. Mane signed a contract until 2027 which means he stands to earn around £136m in total if he sees out the deal.
3. Egypt: Mohamed Salah – £350,000 weekly
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly, often known as Mohamed Salah or Mo Salah, is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for Premier League club Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team.
Salah is regarded as a symbol of national pride in Egypt for his achievements and was named in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in 2019.
Salah has also been credited for raising the profile of Liverpool among Egyptians.
To Egyptians, Salah is known as the “Fourth Pyramid”. Favoured across the Arab world, Salah is often known as the “Pride of the Arabs”.
On 22 June 2017, Salah agreed a transfer to Premier League club Liverpool from Roma. He signed a long-term contract with the Reds for an initial £36.5m fee that could rise to £43m. The fee was a club record, eclipsing the £35m spent on Andy Carroll in 2011.
He earns £350,000 weekly at Liverpool. However, he is tipped to leave the Liverpool side to play in the Saudi Pro League after the club was reportedly offered £200 million.
4. Cote d’Ivoire: Seko Fofana – £250,000 weekly
Seko Fofana is a midfielder with an interesting career path, currently playing in Saudi Arabia. Eventhough he was born in France, Fofana chose to play for his parents country, Ivory Coast national football team.
He plays for Al-Ettifaq although on loan from Al Nassr, both are clubs in the Saudi Arabia Pro league.
Career Highlights:
Won the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September 2021 while playing for RC Lens in France.
Awarded the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé as the best African player in France’s top flight for the 2021–22 season.
Scored the opening goal for Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Fofana currently earns £250,000 weekly.
5. Morocco: Achraf Hakimi – £239,000 weekly
Achraf Hakimi is a highly regarded Moroccan footballer who plays as a right-back or right winger for both the French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the Morocco national team.
He was born on November 4, 1998 and currently 25 years old, will be 26 years old by November 4, 2024.
Hakimi began his professional career at Real Madrid after rising through their youth academy. His loan spells at Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan further honed his skills.
He joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021, solidifying his place as a star player.
Achraf Hakimi earns £239,000 weekly at PSG.
6. Nigeria: Victor Osimhen – £211,000 weekly
Victor James Osimhen is a professional footaballer who plays for Seria A club, Napoli SC, and the Nigerian men national team.
Victor was born on December 29, 1998 and currently 25 years old. He will be 26 years old by December 29, 2024.
Victor Osimhen is a name synonymous with power, pace, and goals. Regarded as one of the best players in the world, admired for his elite finishing, blistering pace, strength, and athleticism.
He currently holds the record for the highest scoring African in Seria A. Earlier in his career, Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria triumphantly won.
Osimhen is currently the joint-third all-time highest goalscorer for Nigeria. He received the honor of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) presented by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.
Although Victor Osimhen has extended his Napoli contract until 2026, he has been tipped to leave Napoli for either the Premier League, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
“We already knew it since last summer,” De Laurentiis said.
Victor Osimhen earns £211,000 weekly. However a move to either the Premier League, Real Madrid or PSG may see him earning more.
For instance, Al Hilal, in an effort to land the Nigerian striker offered “something like £1m per week in wages and that would be tax-free”.
7. Ghana: Thomas Partey – £200,000 weekly
8. Gabon: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £138,000 weekly
9. Mali: Abdoulaye Doucouré – £130,000 weekly
10. Cameroon: Andre Onana – £120,000 weekly
11. Central African Republic: Geoffrey Kondogbia – £116,000 weekly
12. Zambia: Patson Daka – £75,000 weekly
13. Kenya: Michael Olunga – £37,500 weekly
14. South Africa: Lyle Foster – £32,500 weekly
15. Zimbabwe: Marvelous Nakamba – £30,000 weekly
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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