Here are the best African male athletes, ranging from footballers to track and field stars, who made an impact on the continent in 2024.
It is safe to say that 2024 was arguably the best year for Africa in terms of sports, with the biggest names setting new records and achieving new feats across all sports and competitions.
With this in mind, we have compiled a list of the best African male athletes (footballers and track and field stars) who were at their peak in club football, the Olympics, and AFCON for 2024.
Who are the best African male athletes of 2024?
10. Ahmed Elgendy
Country- Egypt
Age - 24
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Ahmed Elgendy made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming not just the first Egyptian athlete to win a gold medal in the modern pentathlon but also the first to ever win the highly coveted medal for Africa as a whole in the sport.
The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport that tests athletes in fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, and a combined laser-run event. Elgendy not only clinched the gold medal, putting the entire continent on the map for that sport, but also set a world record with a total of 1,555 points. This achievement will forever be recorded in the history books of both the Olympics and African lore.
9. Tamirat Tola
Country- Ethiopia
Age - 33
Ethiopian athlete Tamirat Tola holds the number nine spot among our best African Male Athletes for the year 2024 as he defied all odds and delivered a performance that would be remembered for the ages in the 10,000-meter race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Stepping in as a late replacement for an injured teammate, Tola made the most of his unexpected opportunity by claiming the gold medal in the 10,000-meter men’s marathon where he not only secured a victory but also set a new Olympic record with an impressive time of 2:06:26.
His triumph broke Kenya’s longstanding reign in the event and earned Ethiopia its first men’s marathon gold medal since 2000 (24 years ago). Tola's success is particularly extraordinary given that he originally started the competition as a reserve athlete.
8. Brahim Guendouz
Country- Algeria
Age - 25
Paralympian Brahim Guendouz set himself apart from his counterparts, achieving what many have categorized as a first-of-its-kind milestone for Africa as a canoeist. Following his successful feat in the men's kayak single 200 m event, Brahim became the first and only Paralympian from Africa to win a gold medal in canoeing.
With some sports conventionally not considered strong points for Africans, his achievement is regarded as one that will be remembered for many years to come. It is believed that Brahim Guendouz has now opened doors for others to consider this sport and compete for medals and titles on the biggest stages.
7. Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Country- Kenya
Age - 20
Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi was exceptional at the 2024 Olympics as he secured the gold medal in the men’s 800m final with an impressive time of 1:41.19. This achievement crowned him the Olympic champion and placed him as the third-fastest athlete ever in this event, trailing only David Rudisha and Wilson Kipketer.
Given his victory, Emmanuel maintained the long-standing record of Kenyans always dominating the middle-distance races on the biggest of stages.
6. Achraf Hakimi
Country- Morocco
Age - 26
Position - Defender
Club - PSG
Achraf Hakimi was instrumental in Morocco's groundbreaking performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Serving as captain, he guided the team to their maiden Olympic medal in men’s football, earning a historic bronze.
On the club front, Hakimi showcased his status as one of the world’s premier defenders at PSG. Under the leadership of head coach Luis Enrique, the French side enjoyed a triumphant season, clinching the Ligue 1 championship, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions.
5. William Troost-Ekong
Country- Nigeria
Age - 31
Position - Defender
Club - Al-Kholood
In an unexpected turn of events, Super Eagles of Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong captured the spotlight with his unforgettable performance at AFCON 2023, held in January 2024. He earned the Player of the Tournament award after the competition.
It is safe to say that William Troost-Ekong led Nigeria to arguably one of their best runs of form at AFCON in over 10 years.
This, however, was not his only achievement in 2024. The Nigerian international also received a FIFA The Best XI 2024 nomination, following his impressive form at the national level.
4. Victor Boniface
Country- Nigeria
Age - 23
Position - Forward
Club - Bayer Leverkusen
Following a shocking and unexpected transfer to the German Bundesliga in 2023, Nigerian forward Victor Boniface defied all odds and set himself apart with his achievements at Bayer Leverkusen. Boniface was instrumental in Bayer’s explosive 2023/2024 season, which saw them win their first-ever Bundesliga title.
Boniface scored 20 goals in 33 league appearances for Leverkusen, showcasing his consistent ability to find the back of the net. It came as no surprise that the Super Eagles of Nigeria missed him as one of the influential figures during the 2023 AFCON tournament.
3. Joshua Cheptegei
Country- Uganda
Age - 28
Joshua Cheptegei is arguably one of Africa’s finest track athletes, and he makes the list of the Best African Athlete of 2024 following his impressive feat in the 10,000 meters race at the Olympics 2024, where he set a new record with a time of 26:43.14 and snagged the gold medal.
This is however not the only record Joshua Cheptegei set, he also became the athlete to hold the world record for both the 5000-meter and 10,000-meter races. He also set himself apart from the rest at the Olympics as he was the only Ugandan to win 2 gold medals at the 2024 edition of the event.
2. Letsile Tebogo
Country- Botswana
Age - 21
Throughout the 2024 season, Letsile Tebogo consistently performed at an elite level breaking existing records whilst forging ahead to set new ones. It was no surprise that the fast-as-lighting star was crowned the Male Track Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2024.
Tebogo etched his name in history by claiming Botswana’s first Olympic gold medal in the 200m, clocking a record-breaking 19.46 seconds. This achievement also established a new African record, cementing his status as one of the elite sprinters in the world today. He was also instrumental in Botswana's silver medal win in the men’s 4x400m relay, contributing to an African record time of 2:54.53. Tebogo’s remarkable split of 43.04 seconds in the relay ranks among the fastest ever recorded.
1. Ademola Lookman
Country- Nigeria
Age - 27
Position - Winger
Club - Atalanta
Arguably one of Africa’s biggest exports in football at the moment, Ademola Lookman, who plays for Nigeria at the national level and Atalanta at the club level, is our Best Male Athlete of 2024.
Lookman played a pivotal role for Nigeria during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), helping the Super Eagles reach the final, where they suffered a narrow defeat to hosts Côte d'Ivoire.
At the club level, he was named Atlanta's Player of the Season following outstanding performances across all competitions. Lookman tallied 17 goals and 11 assists, making him the team’s second-highest scorer and assist provider.
His crowning achievement came in the UEFA Europa League final, where he netted a remarkable hattrick to secure Atalanta's first European title with a victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Additionally, his contributions were instrumental in earning Atalanta a top-four finish in Serie A and qualification for the next season’s UEFA Champions League.
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