Former Ivory Coast and Manchester City legend Yaya Toure has weighed in on the debate over who is the greatest African footballer of all time.

In a recent video interview shared by Goal on X (formerly Twitter), Toure took part in a selection game titled “Picks between iconic African ballers.”

The four-time African Footballer of the Year was asked to make choices between several African football greats, starting with Didier Drogba vs. Sadio Mane, Samuel Eto’o vs. George Weah, Mohamed Salah vs. Riyad Mahrez, and Jay-Jay Okocha vs. himself.

Toure made his selections, advancing Drogba, Weah, Salah, and Okocha to the next round. When further narrowing his picks, he chose Drogba over Weah and Salah over Okocha, setting up a final showdown between the Chelsea legend and the Liverpool talisman.

In the final choice, Toure ultimately selected Didier Drogba as the greatest African player, acknowledging the immense talent of both players but praising Drogba’s achievements and impact on the game.

“He [Drogba] deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, but he never had the chance,” Toure stated. “What he did in the Champions League final, for Ivory Coast, for Chelsea… he was a leader, an inspiration. I have a lot of respect for Salah, but Drogba was different.”

Drogba, who enjoyed a decorated career with Chelsea, won multiple Premier League titles and played a crucial role in the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League triumph in 2012. His heroics for both club and country have cemented his legacy as one of Africa’s all-time greats.

Salah, on the other hand, has been one of the most dominant African players of the modern era, winning multiple league titles with Liverpool and helping the club secure the Champions League in 2019. Despite his impressive resume, Toure felt that Drogba’s influence and leadership put him a step above.

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