Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has labelled Liverpool pair Mo Salah and Sadio Mane as the “New Kings” of African football ahead of next year’s AFCON.

Drogba was responding to a tweet from the competition’s organisers when he made the claim about the two Reds players:

The new KINGS on the block @MoSalah @SMane_Officiel 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/fWVMleKGDP

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) October 25, 2021

Salah is currently playing the best football of his life, so Drogba’s acknowledgment of the Egyptian international is not surprising. The Liverpool forward recently surpassed the Ivorian for the most goals scored by an African in the Premier League.

Mane has been rather more inconsistent this campaign. The Senegalese international has, though, already scored six times and he is also closing in on Drogba in terms of total league goals in English football.

AFCON itself is a big concern for Reds supporters at the moment. Reports last week suggested that Salah, Mane and Naby Keita could miss up to eight Liverpool matches whilst they are away at the tournament.