Egypt legends Mahmoud Al-Khatib and Hossam Hassan have been named second and third best African players over the last 50 years in an online vote conducted by CAF, the African football governing body said on Saturday. Cameroon's great Roger Milla clinched the first place of a huge list that included the most significant African figures between 1957 and 2007. Milla won 2246 votes, just 81 votes ahead of former Egypt captain and currently Ahli vice chairman Al-Khatib. Hassan, 40 and still playing for Egyptian Premier League side Tersana, had 2011 votes. Ahli's icon and former president Saleh Selim, who passed away in 2002, finished the race in 13th spot. Hany Ramzy, who played for Bundesliga outfits Werder Bremen and Kaiserslautern lied 19th, one position ahead of Zamalek's legend and Egypt manager Hassan Shehata. "It is a big honor to be in the first 20 names of the continent's best players over the second half of the century," Ramzy told FilGoal.com. "I wish in ten years time I can make the list of Africa's best managers," added Ramzy, who has started his managerial career earlier this month after being appointed as ENPPI manager Milla's compatriot Samuel Eto'o came fourth and Abedi Pele of Ghana was placed fifth. Liberian forward George Weah, who was the only African player in history to be named the world's best, finished in sixth place.
Ramzy Al-Khatib dazzled the whole African continent with his skills and class which were the driving force behind Ahli's huge success in the 1970s and 80s. He won 10 Egyptian League titles, five Egyptian Cup trophies, two African Champions League Cups. Al-Khatib was named African's best player by France Football magazine in 1983 before retiring from football four years later. Hassan, who is at 40 still playing for Egyptian side Tersana, also has his unique records. He played for Cairo rivals Ahli and Zamalek, Greek side PAOK, Swiss Neuchatel Xamax, Port Said-based club Masri, Tersana and had a short loan spell with UAE side Al-Ain. Hassan won 14 Egyptian League titles, three African Cup of Nations with Egypt, two African Champions League titles, and five Egyptian Cup trophies. The prolific striker is Egypt's all-time scorer with 80 goals and second in the Egyptian League scorers' chart with 166 goals. ---------------------------------------- *Additional reporting by Ahmad Saied
