FirstTouch’s Top 5 African Male Ballers of 2019

Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 11, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

It's that time of when we round-up the year by celebrating select African soccer players who dominated headlines off and on the pitch.

Below, are five of the best who uniquely repped Africa, all around the world

1. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

The Senegalese international is a clear favorite to win his first ever CAF African Footballer of the year award. Why not, after finishing 4th behind Messi, Van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting. The 27-year-old was arguably the best player in the world of the year 2019, clinching the golden boot after scoring 22 Premier League goals and helping Liverpool to a UEFA Champions League title. In his own words, he could have traded the UCL title for the 2019 AFCON which the Teranga Lions went as far as the final, narrowly losing 0-1 to eventual champions Algeria. Don't take my word for it, 2019 Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi thinks it should have been Mane and so does Arsene Wenger, Eden Hazard and Danny Blind who has labeled him the "new Cristiano Ronaldo."

2. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

He didn't have the Africa Cup of Nations he would have dreamed of as the hosts, Egypt, crashed out of the round-of-16 at the hands of South Africa. Salah, however, continued his blistering goal-scoring form for the Reds, scoring 22 EPL goals just like strike partner Mane. The Egyptian king was also on song as a part of the infamous trio with Firmino and Mane that dominated Europe. The 27-year-old also scored one of the goals for Liverpool in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the UCL final.

Both Salah and Mane haven't slowed down as they are still firing for Jurgen Klopp's men who remain undefeated in the league and skewing the 2019/20 title race in their favor.

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)

Just like Salah, the Gabonese captain's exploits on home soil proved not very fruitful as the Panthers failed to even make the 32 finalist list of the Egypt AFCON finals. He was, however, a clutch for the struggling Arsenal side that lost the UEFA Europa League final to Chelsea and missed out on the EPL top four by a point. The 30-year-old completed the list of the English top flight best scorers as he also had 22 goals to his name, sharing the golden boot with Liverpool's African striking duo.

He has finished the year with the responsibility of being the Gunners' captain and still loves his goals. Only Jamie Vardy had scored more than Auba in the new Premier League season at the time of writing this piece.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his sides third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

(Dec. 8, 2019 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

4. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)

It probably was his best year yet as far as winning is concerned. After winning a historic domestic treble with Manchester City, the 28-year-old immediately switched to his national colors and superbly led the Desert Foxes to their second-ever AFCON title. Most famously, the Algerian captain scored a sublime stoppage time free-kick goal in their 2-1 semi-final victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria. In the new season, he has become a Champions League ace for Guardiola's men, always involved in the goals.

5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

The 21-year-old Moroccan is the only defender on our list and there's a good reason for that. The Lions of the Atlas were shockingly dumped out of the 2019 AFCON finals by Benin in the round-of-16 after entering the tournament as favorites and winning all their group matches. It could go without notice that in every match he ever played for Morocco, the flying full-back was unplayable. He was in similar form for Dortmund who narrowly missed out on a Bundesliga title, finishing second and has since carried that form into the 2019/20. From a defensive position, Hakimi scored an astonishing 3 goals in the UCL group stages and helped Lucien Favre's men to reach the last-16 at the expense of Inter Milan.

There we go folks, let us know who else you might have wanted to see on the list, or better yet share with us how you would rank them all.

Aubameyang vs Koulibaly: The fate of the furious

For years, the UEFA Europa League has been counted as a second fiddle tournament with little to offer in terms of excitement to the biggest of European clubs. Gone are the days when the tournament was looked down upon and now the level of competition in different leagues has improved, forcing clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and Napoli to participate in the tournament. The UEFA Europa League draw was held on Friday, 12 March, 2019 and it presented one of the biggest showdowns of the competition, let alone in Europe. Arsenal was matched up with Naples’ Napoli, a fixture that both teams were hoping to avoid. We look into it, focusing on the two best players from the two teams. Arsenal’s striker versus Napoli’s defender. It’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang versus Kalidou Koulibaly. Check this out.

“ If Aubameyang is the Black Panther, then Koulibaly has to be the Killmonger to the story because the battle boils down to these two. Who will take the throne when these two meet? ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

As expected, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is Arsenal’s top goal scorer at this stage of the season with 21 goals in all competitions with 4 being from the UEFA Europa League tournament. He has been used interchangeably with Alexandre Lacazette but still has the knack for goals and delivers under pressure. It is expected that he will bring his A game against the monstrous beast of a defender in Kalidou Koulibaly.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Arsenal FC at Cardiff City Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 1, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

In the same vein, Koulibaly has been a leader from the back at the Naples club. Koulibaly is raking up an average of 4 clearances and 2.3 blocks per match in this competition. He will be looking to shutout the goal threat in the Gabonese International who is proving a nuisance to defenders in every league he goes to. This could be a true test for both.

Also, if you had not picked it up already, both players hail from the land of Africa. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang leads the frontline for Gabon while Koulibaly takes up defensive duties for Senegal. Both players will be looking to compete for a title as they warm up for this year's African Cup of Nations 2019 tournament to be held in Egypt. Amongst them, could be a possible African Player of the Year if they do well in both ties as well as putting in stellar performances in Africa's finest tournament. I wouldn't want to miss this.

Finally, their personalities are quite the opposite. They remind me of the debate about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. One is more quiet and less expressive on the pitch with the other taking pride in making headlines from controversial goal celebrations. Koulibaly is a more reserved guy who lets his defending do the talking. He is someone who easily stands out in a match with his presence and contribution in the first third of the pitch. Whereas, Aubameyang has some fine goals in his locker which he often celebrates with a front-flip or pulling out some super-hero mask. Recently, the Arsenal striker pulled out the mask of the Black Panther and celebrated his goal in wakanda-style. If Aubameyang is the Black Panther, then Koulibaly has to be the Killmonger to the story because the battle boils down to these two. Who will take the throne when these two meet?

I think Arsenal vs Napoli came too soon but it will be a great spectacle. Especially to see these two players go toe to toe against each other in their quest for titles. My bet is on Aubameyang. Where is yours?

Auba has been clutch, but can his goals bring CL football back to the Emirates?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team's fifth goal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

The Gabonese captain was once again in on the act at the Emirates as Arsenal exited the FA Cup fourth round at the hands of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United. The Arsenal started off brightly, taking the game to the visitors but injuries on centre back pair, Sokratis and Koscielny proved detrimental to their winning efforts as Lukaku grew wings on the left-hand side of the United front three. The latter setting up two goals for Sanchez and Lingard in just two minutes. Arsenal’s top scorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back before half time after Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi and Aaron Ramsey combined beautifully on the left-flank to set up, yet another tap in for the marksman. The game eventually ended 3-1 in favor of the Red Devils but a familiar feeling at the Emirates stadium bracketed the night. Even with one of the world’s inform strikers in Aubameyang, a meticulous Head Coach in Unai Emery with a proven track record of winning trophies and notable top quality players in their squad, its difficult to separate the “new Arsenal” with that which was presided over by Arsene Wenger over the past 22 years.

The player(s) they have always needed

Since Robin Van Persie, the London club had always been in search of a top quality striker to provide the goals and names such as Olivier Giroud, Yaya Sanogo, Nicklas Bendtner and Danny Welbeck auditioned for the role with little success. The arrival of Alexandre Lacazette in the summer of 201, further cemented by that of the African star, Aubameyang, completely obliterated the striker issue. In fact, the latter became an instant hit breaking some notable records for the club such as being on course to become the fastest player to reach 25 Premier League goals for the club, even ahead of legends such as Thierry Henry and Ian Wright. The 2015 African Player Of The Year also became the first Arsenal player to score on every day of the week coupled by his notable habit of scoring on competition debuts as he did against United in the Emirates FA Cup. Arsenal have in fact seldom struggled with scoring goals this campaign as they currently have the sixth most goals scored in Europe’s top five leagues, even ahead of the likes of high flying Dortmund, Liverpool or Bayern Munich. The club’s website actually labelled the Gabonese a man for all seasons (and days) as the club continues to falter between the lines of rejuvenation and stagnation. Seemingly, even the pair of  Premier League’s second top goal scorer and the Uruguayan international, Lucas Torreira (“the defensive midfielder they have always needed”), are just not enough for the Gunners.

“Even with one of the world’s inform strikers in Aubameyang, a meticulous Head Coach in Unai Emery with a proven track record of winning trophies and notable top quality players in their squad, its difficult to separate the “new Arsenal” with that which was presided over by Arsene Wenger over the past 22 years.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 21, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

The “perfect” manager

As Arsene Wenger’s time drew to a close at Arsenal, there was an increasingly growing unrest with the bulk of the fan base criticising the French man for being too laid back, non-adventurous and stingy to spend on transfers. In Emery, Arsenal got a “perfect” replacement for the resigned Wenger. The guy who won three consecutive Europa League trophies with Sevilla, five cups with PSG in two years and oversaw the development of players such as David Silva, David Villa and Ever Banega. Emery became that demanding Coach who pacies the touchline for the whole ninety, shouting instructions and unafraid to drop big names such as Mesut Ozil from the matchday squad. It’s undeniable that there has been some progress since the arrival of the Spaniard but the new Arsenal still has resemblances of the old, marked by frequent defensive catastrophes that saw them ship in 5 goals at Liverpool, painfully hit on the counter as with United on Friday or huffing and puffing at goal as was the case in their 1-0 loss to West Ham United. After being knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup, Carabao Cup, playing in the Europa League and lying 5th on the Premier League table, almost the same position and points they had last campaign after 20 matches with Arsene Wenger - you would understand one who confuses Emery’s Arsenal with that of Wenger.

What’s really the issue then?

It’s almost unrealistic to cover all that is going on at Arsenal in this piece but a few events that we have noticed in recent times do give hints and leave everything to one’s own judgment. The highly rated head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat who worked with Dortmund and helped bring in Aubameyang, Matteo Guendouzi, Torreira and Mkhitaryan left the club, just a little over a year after joining it, leaving more questions than answers into the Arsenal situation. Former Chief Executive, Ivan Gazidis who presided over the Wenger regime also left the club after ushering in “a new era” for the club when he brought in Unai Emery in the May of 2018 and so did co-owner Alisher Usmanov who sold his stake to the sole ownership of unpopular multiple sports business tycoon, Stan Kroenke. The general feeling amongst the Arsenal fans worldwide is that Kroenke is taking them for a ride by investing less than required into the development of the club. Just recently, we learnt that Arsenal were not going to buy any players in the January transfer window but would seek loans which may be difficult to understand when done by the ninth richest football club in the world as of 2019.

What do you think it’s going to take for the Gunners to start shooting again, unhindered?

Iwobi & Aubameyang: African duo hit top form in Arsenal's 5-1 rout of Fulham

Not so long ago, some doubts were cast over the futures of the Arsenal players as Arsene Wenger approached the exit door. Iwobi for example, was a scapegoat whenever the club did not perform at the expected level. The English fans could not understand why the African youngster was playing at a club like Arsenal but the new coach saw something in him that not many saw. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang was a welcome signing because of the quality he brings to the club but there was some pushback because of his proposed signing fee reported to be around £56 million. These were some of the challenges that Unai Emery inherited when he replaced Arsene Wenger who had been at the club for 22-years and has managed to create something positive out of it all. He’s got them to perform on the pitch.

Iwobi

Alex Iwobi of Arsenal battles for possession with Denis Odoi of Fulham during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Europe)

Arguably one of Arsenal’s best players already this season. The 22-year-old Nigerian is looking a different player this season since being converted to an out-and-out winger. He has been confident taking on defenders with an average of 3.5 dribbles per game in the UEFA Europa League. These dribbles did not go unseen as the Arsenal Manager rewarded him with a deserved start again in the English Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham. A second start in the new campaign since the Chelsea game.

Iwobi’s ability to create chances has not been in question. On top of that, his work rate has been crucial to Unai Emery’s philosophy at Arsenal. The Spanish manager believes in an intensive pressing game with the wingers and the forward as the protagonists. Iwobi has not been shy to track back and apply pressure when out of possession. It is this attribute that has seen him being preferred over Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Nigerian is putting the Arsenal badge first which has resulted in heaps of praise from objective football fans across Great Britain.

After 9 games, Arsenal have won 7 and lost just 2. Iwobi has provided 3 assists and scored one goal. His numbers have not done justice to his performance this season as he has been one of the most on-form players. Iwobi  is finally living up to the promise. Could he go on to have an amazing career like his uncle Jay Jay Okocha? “Who was so good” that Bolton Wanderers fans “had to name him twice”.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal with Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

Aubameyang

The Gabonese international is another African who has taken English football by storm this season. He had suffered a rough patch at the beginning of the season having failed to score from glorious chances against Manchester City and Chelsea. He has however, found top form after gaining confidence in the UEFA Europa League. Aubameyang has since scored 6 goals and provided 1 assist in 9 matches. The 29 year old forward is looking potent in front of goal.

Unai Emery has also been bold enough to bench him on 3 occasions but he has managed to come off the bench and be an impact player. Aubameyang’s pace alone is enough to deal with for a defender let alone his trickery and an eye for goal. His unselfishness has helped bring out the best in strike partner, Alexandre Lacazette. The duo have been working together for the good of Arsenal. There is surely more to come from him. There is a lot of buzz around Auba-Lacca becoming the deadliest duo in the premier league.

Conclusion

Arsenal is on the up, in part because these guys are doing their job in the side. Their form has rubbed off their teammates and the London club is looking a different side to the one that struggled to break down teams away from home last season. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Iwobi are working their socks off for the team. They do deserve some praise.

“The 22-year-old Nigerian is looking a different player this season since being converted to an out-and-out winger. He has been confident taking on defenders with an average of 3.5 dribbles per game in the UEFA Europa League.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

FT English Premier League Preview: Can Unai Emery Get Arsenal Back to Top 4

Unai Emery head coach of Arsenal interviews during the International Champions Cup match between Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain at the National Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Singapore. “Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images AsiaPac'“

Long-serving Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, ended his stay at the helm of the London club in May after leading the team for over 20 years. He pointed out that he did not want things to turn out as they did where the Arsenal fans were seen protesting in the stadiums and some flying planes over the pitch with quotes “#WengerOut” and “Thank you for the memories, but it is time to say goodbye”. The Emirates Stadium became hostile even for the Arsenal players who were bashed by the fans for ‘not being worthy to wear the shirt.’ All these challenges were faced by the club less than three months ago before the club appointed the new head coach, Unai Emery. His task is to make sure that all this does not happen and also make sure that the team performs on the pitch. Here’s how we think he will fair this season.

Since the fans were divided on their opinion over Wenger, the atmosphere created in the stadium did not help the players on the pitch. Now, with the appointment of Emery, we see the fans of Arsenal united once again behind the club, and they look like they are ready to back the manager in this post-Wenger era. The new boss has since thanked the fans for supporting him and asks them to be patient and help the team in the upcoming season. He promised them some entertaining football which is part of the identity of the club. By doing this, he has curbed any form of negativity which affected Arsenal’s performances on the pitch last season. This is an excellent step towards success.

Also, he is dealing away with some aspects of Wengerball which frustrated the fans in recent years. Arsenal was playing sideways passes whenever they ran out of ideas and Unai identified this problem before stepping into the big shoes left by the Arsenal legend. In the recent pre-season friendlies, we have already noticed some changes in the style of play as the club is trying out new things like putting the ball over the top which was hardly seen at the Emirates. New signing Matteo Guendouzi released Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through on goal with a delightful lobbed pass, which the Gabonese forward subsequently failed to convert. Sead Kolasinac also did the same for Mkhitaryan in the match against Paris-Saint Germain, which the London club won 5-1. It is these passes that will cause havoc in the EPL and bring them more goals to the ones they scored last season.

Apart from that, Arsenal conceded the most goals (51) out of all the teams in the top 6 last season. They have had challenges with defending for quite some time now, and captain Koscielny’s injury does not make the situation better. However, Emery with the help of Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi, has invested in new defensive options through the purchases of Stephan Litchsteiner and Sokratis. These players have a defensive mindset and are ready to be physical as opposed to most of the Arsenal players who are very laid back and quoted by Troy Deeney as to be lacking ‘cojones’. The hope is for them to help stop the gaps at the back in the club’s search for a top 4 finish.
 

Furthermore, coach Emery has introduced a new way of working at the club. He is seen taking the players for double training sessions and spending more time in the gym with them. He believes in having a squad full of players who work hard throughout the 90 minutes. This requires a lot of preparation, and he has been doing just that. When Arsenal played against Boreham Wood, there was a sense of urgency to get back the ball as soon as they lost it which is different from Wenger’s style. The Arsenal team was vulnerable when they lost possession of the ball and were prone to conceding on the counter. Now, they fight as a team to get the ball back before attacking. This style of play is encouraging to see for the Arsenal fans and has raised their hopes as the 2017/18 season draws near. For the first time in years, the Arsenal fans are optimistic that their team will perform well.

It seems as if the boss has identified the weaknesses of the squad and is working on improving them before the season starts. Do you think Arsenal will be ready to push for top 4 finish let alone mount a challenge for the title? Drop your comments below.

FT English Premier League Preview: How will Aubameyang fair during a full EPL season?

Some call him Arsene Wenger’s gift to Unai Emery. Pierre Aubameyang was the last (mid-season) signing made by the Frenchman before he called time on his long career at Arsenal. There is a lot of hype around the forward and what he is capable of doing. I guess this comes naturally after he claimed Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry’s famous number 14 shirt. The question we try to answer here is how will he fair in a full English Premier League season as compared to other forwards.  

The Gabonese international is a well-known predator in front of goal. He scored a total of 23 goals in 29 matches across all competitions in the 2017/18 season. This obviously includes his contribution in Germany before the turn of this year and his record-breaking start in the EPL for Arsenal. He was brought in with a huge pedigree because he managed to outscore some of the best strikers in the world like Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga. Now, he has moved to England for a new challenge.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang #14 of Arsenal and Juanfran #20 of Atletico Madrid completes for the ball during the International Champions Cup 2018 match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal at the National Stadium on July 26, 2018 in Singapore."Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images AsiaPac"

The top goal scorer in the previous season was a fellow African, Mohamed Salah, of Egypt who scored 31 goals in 38 matches. Although he scored more than Pierre, the Arsenal man has a better shooting accuracy with 61% and also a better goals-per-match ratio with 0.77. Salah stands at 44% and 0.69 respectively. This on its own, proves that the Gabonese forward is a more efficient goalscorer than the person who lifted the Golden Boot accolade at the end of last season.

It is undoubtedly going to be interesting how Aubameyang will fair in a full season against other top goalscorers in the league including Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane, the above mentioned Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku. The new Arsenal coach, Unai Emery, has been preaching about hard-work and is trying to find a new way for the team to play after being used to the tactics of Wenger for 22 years. The recent pre-season friendlies have shown that the team is becoming quicker in transition, which makes them deadlier on the counter. These tactics certainly suit a player of Aubameyang’s abilities whose pace is unquestionable. He managed to score a hattrick against Boreham Wood in a thumping 8-0 victory for the Arsenal. He managed to achieve all of this without the creative genius of Ozil and Mkhitaryan on the pitch. Just imagine how much more he can accomplish with those deadly passers of the ball on the pitch.

I think that Pierre will be a contender for the Golden Boot award in the English Premier League this season. He has already proved that he can do it in England, and can do it better than Salah so there should not be any reason to doubt his abilities in front of goal. However, there are some worries about his contribution in recent weeks after seeing that the new Arsenal coach is deploying the striker on one of the flanks. Against, Boreham Wood, he played on the left and against Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup, he was drifting to the right. This might limit his chances in front of goal and might affect his final standing as far as the top scorers' list is concerned. Who else will be the part of the attacking squad this season?

Romelu Lukaku is also in his second season with Manchester United and has adapted well to Jose Mourinho’s style of play. He scored 16 goals and provided 7 assists for the runners-up in the league. His position in the team is almost guaranteed as the club does not have another out-and-out striker to compete with him for his place in the squad. If he remains fit this season, he will certainly challenge Aubameyang to the top spot on the scoring charts.

Harry Kane is a proven goalscorer in the English Premier League. He has scored more goals in every season since the 2013/14 season. He was the top goal scorer for two years running before Salah came back to England. His Tottenham side is suited for a striker of his abilities and he will be sure to bang in goals. The Englishman seems to be more motivated by goals than trophies which makes him a threat to Aubameyang. He will give it his all to be the highest goalscorer in the league after managing to achieve this feat in the previous World Cup hosted by Russia.

Last but certainly not least. Sergio Kun Aguero. He plays for the defending champions, Manchester City, who won the league with 100 points last season. He scored a total of 21 goals in the league despite being dropped to the bench for Gabriel Jesus on a couple of occasions. Some pundits argued that he was the best finisher in the league, and rightly so, but that was before Salah and Aubameyang came onto the scene. Will he have enough to lift his first golden boot award since 2015?

Top Goal Scorer Predictions:

1. Aubameyang

2. Salah

3. Kane

4. Aguero

5. Lukaku

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.

FT 2017/18 Best Africa XI: ST - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

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 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang [Borussia Dortmund/Arsenal & Gabon]

The Gabon international is undeniably Africa’s best striker in the last few seasons. He has proved that he can score goals consistently in Europe’s toughest leagues. He started off well at Borussia Dortmund where he scored 22 goals in all competitions and provided 3 assists before attracting a bit of controversy in the dressing room of the club when he started skipping training. Many took it as a sign that the player wanted to leave the club and when Arsenal came calling in January, there was no way he was going to turn down such an opportunity to be a part of the history of the North London club. He came to England and he scored 10 goals and also assisted 4 in 12 appearances. All in all, he sits at 32 goals and 7 assists in 42 appearances. The striker is amongst the elite in European strikers and is the next best thing to Salah on the continent of Africa this season. Will he lead Arsenal to glory under new coach Unai Emery in the upcoming seasons?

FT 2017/18 Best African XI: CAM - Riyad Mahrez

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 for 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.

CAM - Riyad Mahrez [Leicester City & Algeria]

Not surprising to see the Algerian international being named as one of the best performers from the African continent in the 2017/18 season. A former winner of the PFA Player of the Year Award in 2016, that he guided Leicester to an English Premier League crown. This season did not start off as well for the player who was declined a move to AS Roma by Leicester City, when clearly he is in need of a better club that will give him the opportunity to challenge for trophies. He was not as motivated until he gradually came back to his best before the winter transfer window. Manchester City came calling for the player in January and the deal looked to be closed until Leicester rebuffed any attempts from the club to take their most-prized asset away. The player was disappointed and took a break from his club in protest. He eventually returned and contributed 12 goals and 10 assists. Imagine what his season could look like without any disturbances.

FT Best African XI: LM - Sadio Mane

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 for 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.

LM - Sadio Mane [Liverpool & Senegal]

Another Senegalese player in the FT African Players of the Season 2017/18. The left winger has enjoyed a great campaign again at Liverpool ever since his move to the club in 2016. He scored 20 goals this season as well as providing 8 assists in 44 matches for both Liverpool and the Senegal national team. Mane is part of the famous, lethal attacking trio of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, which has scored many important goals this season. The 26-year old will be representing Senegal in Russia and will look to lead his country out of the group stage. He will be out to beat the odds and potentially make it to the final just like his club Liverpool did in the UEFA Champions League. Who is ready for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and rooting for these African nations to challenge for the title?

FT Best African XI: CM - Naby Keita

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.

CM - Naby Keita [RB Leipzig & Guinea]

RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita is another midfielder who had a great individual season. The Guinea international is known for his creative prowess. The player scored 10 goals and provided 7 assists in the German Bundesliga this season but this was not enough to secure his team a European spot for next season. His pending move to Liverpool is set to be completed on the 1st of June when the transfer window officially opens. The player has drawn comparisons from players like Iniesta and Xavi of Spain who is considered to be Legends of the game. He is just 23 years of age and is ready to test himself in the most competitive league in the world. His national team, however, is miles away from being a competitive team and he has so much responsibility if he is to one day lead them to a qualification to the FIFA World Cup. For now, he will have to watch the aforementioned players this year in Russia.

FT 2017/18 Best African XI: CDM - Thomas Partey

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.

CDM - Thomas Partey [Atletico Madrid & Ghana]

Atletico Madrid defensive midfielder Thomas Teye Partey had a great season playing for the Spanish club. The Ghanaian has grown to become an important player in the starting lineup of the Madrid club where he contributed both defensively as well as instigating attacks to the opposition. Thomas predominantly plays as a DM but his versatility allows him to cover up in the right-back or even centre-back positions when his teammates are injured or need to be rested. He played 53 games across all competitions this season where his performances helped his team to a UEFA Europa League trophy as well as a second placed finish in the La Liga ahead of Real Madrid. Partey’s closest competitor in this position is Wilfred Ndidi of Nigeria who had an amazing season with Leicester as well but just fell short when comparing him to the outstanding Ghanian. None of these players will be at the grandest football tournament in June so the summer will probably be filled with transfer speculations because they really are good players being sought after by bigger clubs.

FT 2017/18 Best African XI: RM - Wilfred Zaha

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.

RM - Wilfred Zaha [Crystal Palace & Ivory Coast]

The Crystal Palace winger has once again proved that he is the top player in English Premier League this season. Crystal Palace were in the relegation zone this season until the Ivory Coast player returned from injury and guided his team to safety. He scored 9 goals and assisted 3 in the process but these numbers do not do justice to his importance in the team. Sometimes the player is used to distract and subtract three to four players at one go and get his teammates some free space to score goals. Keita Balde of Senegal had a great season at Monaco this season but was just edged out by the 25-year old’s contribution in just 29 English Premier League games. Zaha seems to have matured ever since he returned to Crystal Palace from his short stint at Manchester United. Many rumors are suggesting that he could once again make a big move but this time to Tottenham who are looking for quality players to compete for trophies.

FT 2017/18 Best African XI: LCB – Medhi Benatia

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.

LCB – Medhi Benatia [Juventus & Morrocco]

Another defensive rock in Benatia, he plies his trade in the Italian Serie A. This league is known for being the most tactical with disciplined sides who are hard to score against. In such a league, another African stands out in being one of the best defenders in the 2017/18 season. Benatia of Juventus played 34 games for both club and country this season. He played a part in their club’s UEFA Champions League run that was ended by Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. The Moroccan defender will be leading his team from the back at the FIFA World Cup tournament hosted by Russia next month. He will be under a lot of pressure to shut out all the attacks by the opponents. Will his team make it all the way to the final and win it?

FT 2017/18 Best African XI: CB – Kalidou Koulibaly

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

CB – Kalidou Koulibaly [Napoli & Senegal]

The centre-back has been at his best in recent years and had another wonderful season with his club Napoli who gave Juventus a run for their money in the Italian Serie A. Koulibaly was at the heart of the defense in a season where they came close to winning the league to end the 7-year reign of the Old Ladies. The 26-year-old Senegalese midfielder is once again a transfer target for the biggest clubs in Europe to prove how much of a great talent he is. It would not be surprising to see him joining Arsenal, Manchester United or even Real Madrid this summer after playing 45 times across all competitions. He scored 5 times and provided an assist on top of his defensive duties which makes him a great threat and asset on both ends of the pitch. Kalidou is going to the FIFA World Cup as well this year. Will he have a great tournament with a team that looks strong on paper?

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FT 2017/18 Best African XI: RCB - Hamdi Nagguez

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.

RCB - Hamdi Nagguez [Tunisia & Zamalek SC]

A disappointing season from the ever-present Serge Aurier meant that the right-back spot would be up for grabs. Victor Moses who was predominantly used in the right wing-back position last season by Antonio Conte lost his place in the Chelsea lineup as the manager was trying new tactics. He later returned to the team but it was already too late. Hamdi Nagguez of Tunisia who plays for Zamalek in Africa had already done enough to deserve a place among the best African Players of the 2017/18 season. The 25-year old was solid in the position for the greater part of the season and also contributed 6 assists to his teammates. Thumbs up to the Tunisian who is going to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. It would be a great opportunity for him to test himself against the world’s best.

FT 2017/18 Best African XI: GK - Itumeleng Khune

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.

GK - Itumeleng Khune [South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs]

First up, we have the South African goalkeeper as our No. 1. Quite surprising to see that the Amakhosi goalkeeper is just 30 years old having represented Kaizer Chiefs for the longest time. If you do not know him then it is important to mention he is one of the best distributors of the ball in the whole world. Khune is also one of the Legends in the making to join the list that includes Vincent Enyeama and El-Hadary. In the 2017/18 season, the experienced Khune had 20 shutouts (clean sheets) in 4 competitions. This is thanks to his reflexes, shot stopping abilities as well as his defensive organization at the back. He has the voice to command the backline and deserves a place in FT 2017/18 African XI. By far, the best African goalkeeper this season.

FT Fashion and Football: Wilfred Zaha

Most of the times, the average soccer fan focuses on the day-to-day status of their favorite club’s business. This usually means concentrating on match results, previews, transfer news, and debates on which player is better than the next. That’s where FirstTouch Africa comes in and opens your eyes to some of the things that happen because of football. We are talking about fashion. The crazy hair-cuts and luxurious lifestyles of your star players are what we are going to shed some light on in this season-end.

The Crystal Palace star, Wilfred Zaha is first up on our list of the most fashionable players of African descent. He is popular in his squad for his heroic efforts in almost single-handedly rescuing his team from the drop in the English Premier League 2017/18 season. The club is guaranteed one more season in the top flight competition. But what has the club managed to do for the player? He can now afford a fancy lifestyle in England when he is not representing the Ivory Coast, the national team. The player is one of the few people who used to get a haircut EVERY day before he started growing his dreadlocked Mohawk. Yes, that’s right. He had the patience to sit down for a fresh cut which he says, “A haircut will take me from a 5 to a 10.” Nowadays he probably has someone to work on his fade while still maintaining his dreadlocks. Apart from that, the Ivorian winger has a pretty dope car collection. He owns a Lamborghini Aventador, Gallardo, Mercedes G63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne among others. He has also created a clothing line called Long Live. What more do you need when you are on a £110,000-a-week contract?