Five of the Funniest, Craziest and Strangest Football Man of the Match Awards Ever Given in Africa

• Man of the Match awards have taken different forms over the years
• In Africa, clubs have taken the approach to these awards a notch higher
• Sports Brief examines five of the strangest awards ever in African leagues

The tradition of awarding the Man of the Match (MOTM) in top football matches has taken various forms globally.

In Africa, however, it stands out with its uniquely bizarre and funny awards.

From mobile data to live chickens, here are some of the quirkiest accolades ever given to outstanding players in African football leagues.

Mobile Data

In 2018, Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana went viral for receiving 5GB of mobile data as a Man of the Match reward.

Sponsored by telecom giant Telkom in 2014, this prize was particularly valuable in a region where high-speed broadband is often a premium.

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Full Crate of Beer

Sponsored by Castle Lager, the Zimbabwean Premier League raised eyebrows in 2017 by gifting players a full crate of beers for their outstanding performances. While champagne might have been out in other leagues, a crate of beer seems to be a substantial and unconventional prize in Zimbabwe.

Credit Card

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka was presented with an oversized credit card by ABSA bank in 2014 as a Man of the Match reward, as reported by Daily Star. While the 2,000 South African Rand might have been appreciated, the novelty of the large credit card left fans puzzled.

Live Chicken

In July 2019, Nyasa Big Bullets striker Hassan Kajoke received a live chicken as a token of appreciation from a fan after his Man of the Match performance.

The confused striker was handed the poultry, complete with painted red stripes representing the team colours, in a gesture of support from local fans.

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Football

Slippers

In April 2015, a Ghanaian Division One League Man of the Match winner made headlines for receiving a pair of slippers as a prize.

According to Modern Ghana, Dreams FC player Emmanuel Sowah Adjei was recognized with this unusual award, showing that sometimes, the most unexpected gifts can make the headlines.

These unique and humorous awards add a touch of fun to African football, showcasing the diverse and entertaining ways players are recognized for their exceptional performances on the field.

10 interesting yet unknown rules in football

Sports Brief in July 2020 listed a rare set of football rules which very few fans know about.

These include not getting a goal if the ball goes flat on the way to the net and getting carded for illegal celebrations even if the goal is cancelled.

Another is the possibility of getting a red card before a match officially starts.