Africa has been well-represented in this prestigious tournament, producing football legends who have left an indelible mark. Icons such as Abedi Pele, Nwankwo Kanu, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba
As the UEFA Champions League kicks off this Tuesday, football fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting another exciting season of top-tier competition. With the introduction of a new format, all eyes will be glued to screens as the action unfolds.
Africa has been well-represented in this prestigious tournament, producing football legends who have left an indelible mark. Icons such as Abedi Pele, Nwankwo Kanu, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, and Michael Essien, among others, have delivered remarkable performances and created unforgettable moments in Champions League history.
Drogba’s last minute header in Munich, Essien’s thunderbolt from outside the box and Etoo’s man of the match performance against Arsenal in 2006 final are moments Africans vouch for; to see their boys impress in the big stage.
As this year’s campaign begins, here are some African players to watch as they aim to carry forward the legacy of their predecessors and put the continent in the global spotlight:
Ademola Lookman.
Last season was nothing short of exceptional for the Nigerian international. The Atalanta FC forward managed 17 goals with 3 coming in the UEFA Europa League final when he scored a hattrick against Bayer Leverkusen. Notably, the Nigerian forward is the only African player that has been nominated for this year’s prestigious award Ballon D’OR. He was also named the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League player of the season.
Victor Boniface.
The 23-year-old Nigerian international who is famous on social media for his funny memes and captions is also someone to watch. The attacker scored 22 goals last season and helped his team, Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga unbeaten together with the German Cup. He is not only a big personality outside the pitch but someone who also delivers on the pitch and we can’t wait to see that on the big stage.
Thomas Partey.
The Ghanaian hasn’t been having a consistency on playing time considering that he has been in and out of the pitch for quite sometime due to injury. Having come back and cemented his spot while forming a perfect partnership with Declan Rice, we hope that their magnificent partnerships is also showcased not only in the English Premier League, but also in the Champions League.
Brahim Diaz.
The Moroccan might not be a starter at Real Madrid, but he is one of the clutch players for coach Carlo Ancelloti. With the acquisition of Kylian Mbappe, Diaz is expected to give a fierce fight to sneak himself in between Rodrigo, Vinicius and Mbappe to get the opportunity on the big stage. The player did win the La Liga and UEFA Champions League last season.
Achraf Hakimi.
The Moroccan captain who plies his trade with French side Paris Saint Germaine (PSG) has been on the big stage for quite some time, having reached the semifinal of the world cup in 2022 before being bundled out by France. He has won the competition before with Real Madrid in the 2017-18 edition but winning it on the pitch and with significant participation is what he will be chasing come this season.
Zambo Anguissa.
The Cameroonian has been at the heart of midfield of Italian side Napoli SC and he is set to continue his masterclass as they start this new campaign.
Samu Chukwueze.
The Nigerian winger joined AC Milan earlier last season and although he hasn’t permanently cemented his position in the first eleven. We can’t wait to see his exceptional runs and crazy moves that make football fascinating to watch.
Mohammed Salah.
The 2018/19 Champions League winner will be someone to watch as the competition kickstarts. The Liverpool all time premier league goal scorer will be out on the hunt to make his last year in Merseyside a site to remember.
This are just to name the few notable ones that will turn up to represent our continent. As fans eagerly watch the action unfold, they’ll be hoping these players continue the rich legacy of African excellence in the Champions League, creating new memorable moments for the history books.