Table of Contents
- If you are looking for the right sporting motivation, think no further than famous African sports families
- The most surprising thing about these families is that it took just one of the siblings to inspire the rest
- Years later, they are household names in and out of the continent
If you are looking for the right sporting motivation, think no further than famous African sports families. They will always serve you a perfect shot of zeal and endless possibilities.
The most surprising thing about these families is that it took just one of the siblings to inspire the rest into joining the sporting scene.
Alternatively, one of the parents or a guardian was a sports person, and they inspired the children to follow in his footsteps.
Years later, they are household names in and out of the continent. They gave, and still give, their best for their countries.
Who are the Most Famous African Sports Families?
1. The Dibaba sister in Ethiopia
Dibaba sisters. Photo/ YouTube.
The Dibaba sisters top our list of the most famous African sports families. They are five sisters, namely, Melat, Anna, Tirunesh, Ejegayehu, and Genzebe. Tirunesh Dibaba is the most famous of all, having won two Olympic Gold medals.
Genzebe is equally an athlete of repute on the international front with multiple world records. The other sisters have also achieved a lot on a personal level in athletics. Their cousin Derartu Tulu made history after winning an Olympic gold medal as the first black woman.
2. McDonald Mariga and Victor Wanyama from Kenya
FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga. Photo/Mariga
Victor Wanyama and McDonald Mariga are successful Kenyan footballers. Mariga, the eldest brother, was among the few Kenyans who made it to the international football scene in the last decade, playing for big teams like Inter Milan, Parma, Latina, among others.
He is now the Football Kenya Federation Vice President after retiring g from football and trying his hand in elective politics back in 2019.
His younger brother Wanyama is still playing actively, now with Scotland’s Dumferline FC. He played for Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City before moving to the Major League Soccer in Canada.
The brothers recently lost their mother, but they remain among the most successful and famous African Sports families.
3. Timothy Cheruiyot and Edwin Melly from Kenya
Timothy and Edwin are a copy of Norway’s Ingebrigtsens brothers, known for their athletic success. The two Kenyan brothers are from the Rift Valley, a region known for producing top athletes.
Timothy, a middle-distance runner, won the 2019 1500m World Championship title. He says that Edwin challenges him a lot, and he is the reason behind his success in athletics. On the other hand, Edwin is a force in national and international athletics. His training zeal is unmatched, according to fellow athletes in the Rift Valley.
4. Ayew Brothers from Ghana
Jordan Ayew. Photo/BBC
Jordan Ayew and his brothers Andre Ayew and Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew are Ghanaian football legends. Their history among the most famous African sports families started with their father, Ayew Snr, who was a football star.
He mentored his three sons, and before long, they stepped out of his shadow to become great footballers.
Besides playing for Ghana’s national team, Jordan had a stint with Crystal Palace.
5. Ndour Sisters from Senegal
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and FIBA hold the Ndour sisters, Maimouna Ndour and Astou Ndour, in high regard. Astou is the eldest of the Ndour sisters. She plays for the Chicago Sky and the Spanish national basketball team.
Maimouna plays in France. The sisters jointly represent Senegal in the FIBA Africa Women’s Championship.
6. Boateng Brothers from Ghana
Kevin-Prince Boateng. Photo/ CBC.
Jerome Boateng and his brother Kevin Prince Boateng are some of the most famous African sports families to ever live. The Ghanaian brothers have represented their country far and wide in the international football scene. In 2010, the brothers treated the world to a spectacle during the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Jerome played for Germany while Kevin played for Ghana. Jerome and Kevin were born in West Berlin, Germany, to a German mother and a Ghanaian father. Kevin chose to play for the Ghanaian national team in honour of his roots, while Jerome chose Germany’s national team.
