African football legends El Hadji Diouf, Asamoah Gyan, Ahmed Hassan, and Augustine 'Jay-Jay' Okocha have been announced as the first ambassadors to join the newly established CAF Ambassadors Program.

The initiative aims to feature football legends, community role models, and other popular personalities who will promote CAF (Confederation of African Football) and African football, participating in various activities, including tournaments, charity initiatives, commercial events, and more.

The selection criteria for these four legends considered factors such as sporting and career achievements, social impact, and commercial value.

Each of these football icons has left an indelible mark on the continent with their contributions to the sport.


  • El Hadji Diouf: A two-time CAF Player of the Year, Diouf played a significant role in Senegal's golden generation in the 2000s, reaching the final of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations and the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup.

  • Asamoah Gyan: Rising to captain of Ghana's Black Stars, Gyan featured in seven Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the final in 2010 and 2015. He holds the record for the most goals by an African in the FIFA World Cup.

  • Ahmed Hassan: One of the most decorated players in African football, Hassan won four Africa Cup of Nations titles with Egypt (1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010) and is known for his extensive caps with over 170 appearances for Egypt.

  • Augustine 'Jay-Jay' Okocha: An iconic midfielder for Nigeria, Okocha won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and an Olympic gold medal in 1996.

The CAF Ambassadors Program aims to bring legends and celebrities from various fields, contributing to the expansion of CAF's activities, fostering new revenue streams, and enhancing global engagement with fans and stakeholders.

Additional names for the Ambassadors Program are expected to be announced in the future.