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Senegal striker Sadio Mané, July 14, 2019. Suhaib Salem / Reuters

The Senegalese, who will play the finals of the CAN 2019 against Algeria, told the BBC on the race for the Ballon d'Or. The striker launches a "cry of the heart" so that the African Cup of Nations is more considered in the votes to elect the best player in the world. The record of the Ballon d'Or since 1995 does not really put African football in the spotlight.

Winner of the Champions League and vice-champion of England with Liverpool, co-top scorer in the Premier League with Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Egyptian Mohamed Salah, qualified with Senegal for the final of the African Cup 2019 Nations : Sadio Mané makes a very high season 2018-2019. Does his performance make him a prime candidate for the 2019 Ballon d'Or?

For his fans, it's obvious. But the past does not really push for optimism. Since 1995, when the Golden Ball opened to non-European players, the winners are either European (13 times) or South American (10 times), with one notable exception: the victory of Liberian George Weah in 1995 precisely.

George Weah won the Ballon d'Or in 1995. DR

Weah is the tree that hides the forest of African football. Sadio Mané , one of the serious contenders for Luka Modric's succession, spoke about the topic at the BBC microphone.

" Not normal not to consider the CAN as the Copa America or the Euro "

The Lion of the Teranga spoke on the final of July 19 against Algeria, on the race for top scorer (currently awarded to Nigerian Odion Ighalo, 4 goals), and therefore also on the race at the Ballon d'Or. Sadio Mané regrets the lack of importance given to performances during the CAN: " It's a cry of the heart that we must do. It is not normal not to consider the CAN as the Copa America or the Euro. It's a shame. With all due respect, it must stop, really. "

The comparison of all the CANs since 1996 and all the editions of the Ballon d'Or tends to accredit the opinion issued by Sadio Mané. Of the twelve NPCs played between 1996 and 2017, only three African champions were named to the Golden Ball the same year: Cameronians Geremi Njitap and Patrick Mboma were nominated in 2000 but received no votes, and Ivorian Yaya Toure was named in 2015 and ranked 12th with 0.89% of the vote.

Edition of the CAN Winner and finalist

Players named at the Ballon d'Or the same year

CAN 1996 South Africa and Tunisia No South African, no Tunisian
CAN 1998 Egypt and South Africa No Egyptian, no South African
CAN 2000 Cameroon and Nigeria Geremi and Patrick Mboma nominated but no vote for them, no Nigerian
CAN 2002 Cameroon and Senegal No Cameroonians, Papa Bouba Diop and El Hadji Diouf 21st and 22nd with 2 votes each
CAN 2004 Tunisia and Morocco No Tunisian, no Moroccan
CAN 2006 Egypt and Ivory Coast No Egyptian, Didier Drogba 8th with 25 points
CAN 2008 Egypt and Cameroon No Egyptian, Samuel Eto'o 17th with 6 points
CAN 2010 Egypt and Ghana No Egyptian, Asamoah Gyan 18th with 0.46% of the votes
CAN 2012 Zambia and Ivory Coast No Zambian, Didier Drogba 8th with 2.6% of the votes and Yaya Toure 12th with 0.76% of the votes
CAN 2013 Nigeria and Burkina Faso No Nigerian, no Burkinabe
CAN 2015 Ivory Coast and Ghana Yaya Toure 12th with 0.89% of the vote, no Ghanaian
CAN 2017 Cameroon and Egypt

No Cameroonians, no Egyptians

The more general analysis of all the editions of the Ballon d'Or reveals a chasm between African players and other footballers. No African has been able to invite himself on the podium since the coronation of George Weah. The one who has come nearer to it is Didier Drogba; the Ivorian finished 4th in 2007 behind Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Samuel Eto'o, the most ranked African player, finished fifth in 2009. Mohamed Salah took 6th place in 2018.

THE BEST AFRICAN PLAYERS CLASSIFIED WITH GOLDEN BALLOON

George Weah (Liberia): 1st in 1995, 12th in 1996
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast): 4th in 2007, 8th in 2006 and 2012, 9th in 2009, 14th in 2005, 17th in 2004, 21st in 2008
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon): 5th in 2009, 6th in 2006, 8th in 2011, 10th in 2005, 12th in 2010, 15th in 2004, 17th in 2008, 30th in 2007, appointed in 2003
Mohamed Salah (Egypt): 6th in 2018
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) : 7th in 2016
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon): 11th in 2016, 21st in 2017
Frédéric Kanouté (Mali): 11th in 2007
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria): 11th in 1996, 23rd in 1999
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo): 12th in 2008
Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast): 12th in 2012, 2013 and 2015, 14th in 2014, 28th in 2009
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana): 18th in 2010
Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal): 21st in 2002
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal): 21st in 2002
Michael Essien (Ghana): 22nd in 2005, 24th in 2007, appointed in 2006
Sadio Mané (Senegal): 22nd in 2018, 23rd in 2017
Anthony Yeboah (Ghana): 23rd in 1995
Viktor Ikpeba (Nigeria): 32nd in 1997

AFRICAN PLAYERS NAMED GOLD BALLOON BUT NOT CLASSIFIED VOTING FAULT

Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria) in 1995
Japhet N'Doram (Chad) in 1995
Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria) in 1995 and 1996
Sunday Oliseh (Nigeria) in 1998
Patrick M'Boma (Cameroon) in 2000
Geremi Njitap (Cameroon) in 2000
Samuel Kuffour (Ghana) in 2001
Hatem Trabelsi (Tunisia) in 2003
Mahamadou Diarra (Mali) in 2006 and 2007