FT 2017/18 Best Africa XI: ST - Mohamed Salah

The 2017/18 season was as entertaining as any. Our African players took the European leagues by storm once more as they were taught by the legends who left a mark in these leagues as early as the 1970s. Most definitely, Mo Salah has been the talk of the town for his remarkable contribution to his club, Liverpool both in the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. In this piece, we are looking at the best African players to have played this season by each position and see who deserves to rub shoulders with the Egyptian King in the Starting XI. Here are our FT 2017/18 African Players of the Year lined up in a 3-5-2 formation.

ST - Mohamed Salah [Liverpool & Egypt]

Without a doubt, a Ballon D’Or contender this year, Mohamed Salah of Egypt has had the season of his life. Not many players score more than 40 goals in a single season let alone in their first season for their club. Not even the current FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 44 goals in his first season at Real Madrid. Such is the impact that has been made by the African player who joined Liverpool in the summer of 2017. He has repaid the efforts of the scouting team at the Merseyside club who pushed the club into purchasing him ahead of other talented players on their transfer list. Liverpool finished 4th in the English Premier League behind Tottenham Hotspur in third, Manchester United in second and the winners Manchester City. Mo Salah also guided his team to the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid even though they eventually lost 3-1. The player’s FIFA World Cup contribution level is in doubt, however, since he picked up a shoulder injury in an early clash with Sergio Ramos and it will be a big miss if he does not represent Egypt this summer.