By Jimmy Johnson

The 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is just around the corner. It’s always a tournament that provides entertainment, for better or for worse.

To commemorate the occasion, let's look at ten of the greatest African Liverpool players from across history.

To qualify for this list, players must have either been born in an African country or represented an African national on the international stage in a footballing capacity.

10. Titi Camara

Titi Camara spent just one season in a Liverpool shirt, but nonetheless managed to make an impact during his brief stint in Merseyside.

Notably, Camara scored a winning goal over Arsenal at Highbury in 2000, bolstering his already popular image with the fans. In total, he made 33 Premier League appearances for the Reds, scoring nine goals.

9. Naby Keita

The story of Naby Keita is a frustrating one. The Guinean should have had a glittering career at Liverpool and was part of a very successful squad, but his contributions towards it amount to little more than an extended footnote. 

It isn’t all his fault, however. His time at Anfield was harangued by injuries, limiting him to 84 Premier League appearances in the five years he spent at the club. During tis time, however, he won both the Champions League and the Premier League.

8. Kolo Toure

Kolo Toure’s best years came before his time at Liverpool, but the Ivorian international still had plenty left in the tank when he arrived at Anfield.

He made a couple of errors that made him the subject of criticism, but was largely solid - and well-liked - during his stint with the Reds. He didn’t win any trophies at Liverpool, but was part of the team that finished as runners-up in the Europa League in 2016.

7. Berry Nieuwenhuys

Berry Nieuwenhuys played for Liverpool almost exclusively during the World War Two era. Known for his quick feet, goalscoring prowess and unpronounceable surname, Nieuwenhuys gave the Reds something to cheer during a dark period.

The South African only won one major honour during his time at Liverpool, when he lifted the First Division title at the end of the 1946/47 season.

6.  Arthur Riley

Arthur Riley had a similar career trajectory to Nieuwenhuys - he was also a South African who travelled up to England to play for Liverpool although he did so at an earlier date.

Riley spent 14 years at Anfield, making 338 senior team appearances for the Reds. He kept a clean sheet against Manchester United in his final game for Liverpool, though he never won a major honour. 

5. Joel Matip

Joel Matip is something of an unsung hero in the eyes of many. While Virgil van Dijk is rightly regarded as one of the best defenders in football history, his long-time centre-back partner, Joel Matip, does not get the same level of praise. 

Matip was largely excellent during his time at Liverpool - the Cameroonian combined physicality with technical ability to make himself the archetypal modern defender. He won both the Premier League and the Champions League at Liverpool, as well as the FA Cup and the League Cup. 

4. Bruce Grobbelaar

Bruce Grobbelaar is a contentious figure at Anfield. Some remember him for all the trophies he won, while others cannot look past his infamous match-fixing scandal. 

Whatever your views may be, Grobbelaar’s success at Liverpool cannot be denied. The Zimbabwean international won six First Division titles at Liverpool, alongside three FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League in 1984.

3. Gordon Hodgson

A forward well beyond his years, Gordon Hodgson is possibly the greatest Liverpool player to have never won a major honour at the club. 

He made 358 appearances for the Reds and scored 233 goals. His time at Anfield was curtailed by World War Two - had he been given the chance, his goals tally may have been even more impressive.

2. Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane is one of the best wingers of the modern era. He enjoyed his best years at Liverpool, where his excellent movement and ice-cold finishing allowed him to score 90 goals in 196 Premier League appearances.

Mane was a cornerstone of the Jurgen Klopp era, during which he won the Premier League, the Champions League, the League Cup and the FA Cup.

1. Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is in the headlines at the moment - and not for the right reasons. Nevertheless, we would be remiss to not mention everything that he has achieved at the club, the Egyptian international remains one of the greatest Liverpool players of all time.

Salah spearheaded Liverpool’s most successful era in the Premier League, winning every major trophy that was available to him - including two Premier League titles and the Champions League. He has scored 188 goals in 301 league appearances for the Reds - but where does his future lie?