The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) has seen countless footballing legends grace its pitches, yet for some of the continent’s most celebrated stars, ultimate glory at the tournament has remained an elusive dream. Iconic figures like Mohamed Salah and Didier Drogba, who have achieved immense success at club level, find themselves on a list of exceptional players never to have lifted the coveted Afcon trophy.

Didier Drogba, a talismanic figure for Chelsea, was renowned for his prowess on the biggest stages, consistently delivering crucial goals in major finals. His impressive record saw him score nine goals in ten major finals for the London club, ultimately leading them to victory in eight of those showpiece events. However, this clinical finishing touch seemed to desert him when representing Ivory Coast on the Afcon stage.

Drogba’s quest for continental silverware was twice thwarted by penalty shootouts. In the 2006 final, as captain, he saw his opening spot-kick saved against hosts Egypt, a miss that proved costly as the Pharaohs secured a 4-2 victory. The Elephants, heavily favored in the 2012 final against Zambia, once again found themselves undone by the lottery of penalties.

With ten minutes remaining in that 2012 final, Drogba missed a golden opportunity to put Ivory Coast ahead from 12 yards, famously skying his penalty over the crossbar. While he converted his penalty in the subsequent shootout, his team ultimately fell short. His other Afcon campaigns saw Ivory Coast finish fourth in 2008 and exit in the quarter-finals in 2010 and 2013 before his international retirement in 2014.

Ironically, just six months after Drogba’s departure, Ivory Coast triumphed in the 2015 Afcon final, defeating Ghana in a penalty shootout. Drogba, a figure who played a significant role in ending his country’s civil war, remains one of Africa’s greatest players whose trophy cabinet notably lacks an Afcon title.

Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian superstar and one of the modern era’s most electrifying forwards, also faces the same Afcon conundrum. While he has achieved monumental success with Liverpool, winning numerous Premier League and Champions League titles, leading Egypt to Afcon glory has proven a difficult challenge. His presence in the tournament has often ignited hope, but the final hurdle has yet to be overcome.

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Keywords: Africa Cup of Nations, Afcon, Mohamed Salah, Didier Drogba, football legends, missed Afcon title, African football, soccer stars