Every African nation's greatest World Cup star

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Even thought the likes of Sunday Oliseh and Rashidi Yekini made unforgettable impacts at the World Cup, their performances don’t match those of Jay-Jay Okocha in 1998.Given a free license to roam and create by Bora Milutinovic, Okocha was irrepressible in France, proving influential in the historic victory over Spain in the group stage that ultimately ensured Nigeria’s progression to the Last 16.He was even outstanding against Denmark in the Round of 16, constantly driving at the opposition backline and probing for an opening, but with a lack of defensive structure behind him, the Super Eagles crumbled.Honourable mention must go to Ahmed Musa, who often saved his best moment for the big occasion.

Nigeria

The likes of Salif Diao and Papa Bouba Diop both delivered the performances of their career during the 2002 World Cup as Senegal defeated France and shocked the world.However, that victory over the reigning world and European champions wouldn’t have been possible without El-Hadji Diouf, whose footwork, technical prowess and speed were all critical in unsettling Les Bleus in that opening victory.The ageing centre-back duo of Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf didn’t have an answer to Diouf’s immense dribbling and direct running, and the two-time African Footballer of the Year registered the assist for Bouba Diop’s famous winner.

Senegal

Asamoah Gyan is Africa’s all-time top scorer in the World Cup, so he was always going to get the nod for the Black Stars here.Baby Jet scored in the victory over the Czech Republic at the ’06 World Cup—Ghana’s first appearance at the tournament—and then against both Serbia and Australia in the group stage four years later.His winner against the United States in Rustenburg sent Ghana through to a historic quarter-final against Uruguay, although when the Black Stars needed him most, he came up short with a last-minute penalty after Luis Suarez’s handball had denied the West Africans a sure-fire winner.In 2014, Gyan scored twice more—against Germany and Portugal—but wasn’t able to inspire Ghana out of the group.

Ghana

Wahbi Khazri’s performances at the 2018 World Cup will take some beating, with the attacker making history for the Carthage Eagles in Russia.He wasn’t able to drag them into the Last 16, but he scored once and registered an assist in the defeat by Belgium, before repeating the feat in the come-from-behind victory over Panama, as Tunisia won their first World Cup game in 40 years.What impact can the Montpellier man make in Qatar?

Tunisia

Mustapha Hadji was named African Footballer of the Year in 1998, due—in no small part—to his performances at the World Cup in France.He brought together all of the qualities of the classic North African maestros as the Atlas Lions pushed for the knockout stages, single-handedly eviscerating the Scotland defence in Morocco’s 3-0 thumping of Craig Brown’s side.During that match, Hadji scored one of the goals of the tournament, racing onto a through-ball from Taher El Khalej, flummoxing Dan Eggen, before firing beyond Frode Grodas.It was a sensational effort by a truly tremendous player.

Morocco

Siphiwe Tshabalala marked the first World Cup on African soil with a stunning effort that truly kicked off the 2010 tournament in style.The strike, which was nominated for the Puskas Award, delighted a packed FNB Stadium, with Tshabalala’s run and thumping finish proving to be one of the highlights of that tournament.His celebration wasn’t bad either!

South Africa

It couldn’t be anyone else but Roger Milla, could it?!While Samuel Eto’o failed to make an impression on the tournament, his elder compatriot was one of the stars of the 1990 tournament, scoring four goals as Cameroon reached the quarter-finals.The striker had been recalled from a pseudo-retirement in Reunion to bolster Cameroon’s attacking options, and promptly delighted the world with his inimitable corner flag Makossa celebration.Four years later, in the USA, he was again recalled, and promptly scored against the USSR to become—at 42—the oldest scorer in World Cup history.It’s not a record that’s likely to be beaten any time soon.

Cameroon

Wilfried Bony, Gervinho and Didier Drogba all had their moments at the World Cup, but we gave our vote here to Aruna Dindane, whose showing against Serbia &amp; Montenegro in 2006 inspired the Elephants to their first ever win at the tournament.Having lost their first two matches, the Ivorians were already eliminated heading into their final group game, and when Serbia took a two-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes, it looked as though an unhappy World Cup experience would be complete.Dindane, however, had other ideas, and single-handedly launched a comeback with goals in the 37th and 67th minutes.Substitute Bonaventure Kalou netted the winner four minutes time from the penalty spot.

Ivory Coast

Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi were the architects of Algeria’s shocking 2-1 victory over West Germany, but Salah Assad’s performance both in this match and in the triumph over Chile were outstanding.The striker netted twice as the South Americans were defeated 3-2, and it was only disgraceful and unsporting collusion between neighbours Germany and Austria that prevented the North Africans from progressing to the knockout stages.Assad and his teammates deserved much better.

Algeria

Ze Kalanga impressed for Angola at the 2006 World Cup, registering the assist for Flavio’s goal against Iran—Os Palancas’ first ever goal in the tournament—and winning the Man of the Match award in that 1-1 draw.The youngster’s performance in midfield gave Angola belief that they could secure an unlikely progression to the knockouts upon their first appearance in the tournament.Goalkeeper Joao Ricardo also deserves some credit for making a series of saves against both Mexico and Iran to keep Angola alive…just…in the tournament.

Angola

In the first 44 years of the World Cup, only one African team—Egypt in 1934—competed in the tournament.The Pharaohs were eliminated after one match—a 4-2 defeat by eventual finalists Hungary—but not before Masry attacker Abdulrahman Fawzi had netted two for the North Africans.In the process, he of course became the first African player to score at a World Cup, but Fawzi arguably should have had a third, with some accounts suggesting his sensational third effort should not have been ruled out for offside.