With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) recently concluding in a Senegal victory, New York City (NYC) mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked to pick his best African soccer star of all time. And the Arsenal fan surprisingly snubbed Mohamed Salah and Didier Drogba.
Mohamed Salah and Didier Drogba Overlooked by NYC Mayor
In CBS Sports Golazo‘s ‘Winner Stays On AFCON Edition’ segment, Mamdani was queried to pick between Senegal and Al-Nassr star Sadio Mane and Nigeria and Galatasaray ace Victor Osimhen. He picked Mane before again naming the ex-Liverpool ace over Morocco and Real Madrid player Brahim Diaz. However, the 34-year-old changed his tune soon after.
When the interviewer asked him to choose between Mane and Ivory Coast and Chelsea icon Drogba, the newly appointed 112th mayor of New York City replied, “As an Arsenal fan, I was traumatized by Didier Drogba. So, Didier Drogba.”
After picking the Blues legend over Cameroon and Barcelona icon Samuel Eto’o and Ghana and Chelsea legend Michael Essien, Mamdani was asked to pick between Drogba and Salah. He responded, “Mo Salah is the only one that has a halal truck named after him in Astoria. So, I’m going to go Mo Salah.”
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Party, subsequently chose Salah when asked to pick between him and Algeria and Manchester City great Riyad Mahrez. But he decided against choosing Salah after Nigeria icon and ex-Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu’s name popped up.
Later on, Mamdani picked Kanu over Ghana and Olympique Marseille icon Abedi Pele before choosing Nigeria icon and ex-Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Jay-Jay Okocha. He continued to choose Okocha, a former Bolton Wanderers star, over Nigeria legend and ex-Chelsea ace John Obi Mikel, and Ivory Coast and Manchester City legend Yaya Touré afterwards.
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However, in the last question, Mamdani was asked to pick between Okocha and Liberia icon and former PSG and AC Milan star George Weah. The Arsenal supporter replied, “Has to be George Weah because he’s the father of a New Yorker who grew up on Staten Island. Shout out to (United States men’s national team and Marseille player) Timothy Weah.”
Weah, who turned 59 last October, is considered one of the greatest African soccer stars of all time, having won the Ballon d’Or award in 1995. He lifted two Serie A titles, one Ligue 1 title, one FA Cup, and three Coupe de France trophies during his playing career.
