The list of foreign players who have won the Africa Cup of Nations while playing in Saudi Arabian stadiums has expanded to include Ivorian trio Seko Fofana, Frank Kessie, and Ghislain Konan. The Ivorian national football team clinched the African title on Sunday, defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final match.
Fofana and his teammates played key roles in the final, with Kessie scoring the opening goal for his team. Both Kessie and Fofana, midfielders, joined Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr Saudi clubs, respectively, during the past summer, while Konan signed with Al-Ittihad a year prior.
Al-Nassr loaned Konan, a left-back, to Al-Fayha before the start of the current season, and Fofana to Al-Ettifaq during the last winter transfer window, coinciding with the African tournament.
Before the Ivorian trio, six foreign players won the African Cup of Nations while playing in Saudi stadiums. Cameroonian Joseph Ndo, an attacking midfielder, won the title in 2002, while Egyptian Hassan Mustafa and Hossam Ghaly won it in 2008 and 2010, respectively. The trio of Saudi league players, Rais M’Bolhi, Az Al-Din Dookha, and Jamal Belamari, won the title in 2019 with the Algerian national team.
In conclusion, the Saudi Arabian football league has witnessed the success of numerous foreign players who have gone on to win the Africa Cup of Nations while playing in its stadiums. The recent addition of Ivorian players Seko Fofana, Frank Kessie, and Ghislain Konan to this prestigious list highlights the league’s growing prominence on the international stage. As these players continue to excel both domestically and internationally, their achievements serve as a testament to the quality of football and the competitive spirit fostered within Saudi football clubs.
