A quartet of African football legends – El Hadji Diouf, Asamoah Gyan, Ahmed Hassan, and Austine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha – headline the inaugural CAF Ambassadors program.
This is a strategic initiative aimed at leveraging their sporting prowess, community influence, and commercial appeal to champion CAF and African football.
These iconic figures, chosen based on criteria encompassing sporting achievements, societal contributions, and market value, bring a wealth of experience to the program.
Diouf, a two-time CAF Awards Player of the Year, left an indelible mark with Senegal’s Teranga Lions, reaching the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations final and the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in 2002.
Gyan, the former Ghana Black Stars captain, boasts seven Africa Cups of Nations appearances and holds the record for the most goals by an African player in World Cup history.
Hassan, a decorated Egyptian player, clinched four Africa Cups of Nations titles and earned recognition for his remarkable 170 caps.
Okocha, the iconic Nigerian midfielder, contributed to the Super Eagles’ 1994 African Cup of Nations triumph and secured Olympic gold in 1996.
Beyond their on-field exploits, these legends are poised to play pivotal roles in various CAF activities, including tournaments, charitable endeavors, and commercial and social events.
The Ambassadors program signals a broader strategy to engage personalities from diverse fields, fostering increased revenue streams and global stakeholder involvement.
As CAF unveils additional names in the coming days, the program anticipates enhancing connectivity with fans and stakeholders while expanding the organization’s influence across the continent.