Ghezzal and Seri, two match winners to watch out for this Premier League weekend

“It’s all about building up that confidence and getting some look good statistics next to their names now and forever. This weekend is one such opportunity, will the sons of the African soil in Ghezzal and Seri seize the opportunity...”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Confidence is just as important or even more important than talent in football. It’s almost the singular attribute that is directly correlated to superior performance. For instance, Arsenal’s Iwobi is looking a different player under Unai Emery even though we had always known the Nigerian is a top talent. Confidence is paying off huge dividends. Leicester City’s replacement to Algerian Riyad Mahrez who left for Premier League champions Man City, Rachid Ghezzal is one player who can get a few more good performances under his belt and finally settle in his new EPL surroundings after arriving from Monaco in the summer. Fulham’s Jean Michel Seri is undoubtedly the conductor of their orchestra and has pulled off some interesting performances this campaign. As both Leicester City and Fulham face-off opposition outside the big six this weekend, it’s all to play for and the coronation of these playmakers with some look good stats could be in sight.

Rachid Ghezzal

Rachid Ghezzal of Leicester City (left) celebrates with team mate Vicente Iborra of Leicester City (right) after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Leicester City and Fleetwood Town at The King Power Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Leicester, England.

(Aug. 27, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Yes, the 26-year-old Algerian international is just as left-footed as Mahrez and inherited his place in the 2014/15 Premier League champions’ setup but he is his own player. Comparisons between him and Mahrez will get even louder and Ghezzal will surely be focused on one thing at this point in his career, being at his best. It did not quite work out for him with his previous employers as he managed eleven goals in 87 Lyon appearances, only two for Monaco in 26 appearances before Leicester captured him for £10 million in the summer. He is however an undisputable talent, comfortable on the ball, with a sharp left foot always enabling him to cut inside when playing on the right wing to get some goals or set up teammates. He is also more physical than Mahrez, one attribute that makes it inevitable for him to cope with the intensity of the premier league. He got his dream start to life in England with a goal against EPL leaders Liverpool in a 2-1 loss at the King Power but was just as fault as all the other Leicester players in 4-2 loss to Bournemouth last weekend. With Leicester City desperate to comeback to winning ways when they welcome 18th placed Huddersfield Town, Ghezzal will surely be instrumental if they are to get something out of the match. It’s a match they fancy themselves winning and one that Ghezzal perhaps believe will be a real confidence boost as he builds upon his manager, Claude Puel’s confidence in him as a player offering something different to the Foxes set up.

Jean Michael Seri

The Ivorian is no stranger to starring roles. He was OGC Nice’s starman from 2015 throughout to 2018 after he was signed from Portuguese side Pacos De Ferreira. He was so good in the French Ligue 1 that a proposed €40 million move to Barcelona failed by a whisker. He was widely viewed as a player to help fill the void left by Barca legend Andres Iniesta. Premier League new boys, Fulham won his signature ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham simply because the 27-year-old felt like the Craven Cottagers were more serious in their approach to land the midfielder. He is up and running early after winning the Premier League Goal of the Month for August, for a stunner he bagged in a Fulham’s 4-2 victory over Burnely and a top drawer assist for Andre Schurrle’s goal at Brighton. He was missing in the Whites last outing at Manchester City, in a performance that was headlined his error that led to City’s first goal within ninety seconds of kick-off. He has been featured as one of the hardworking midfielders currently in the English top flight and the Watford match on Saturday at home that kicks off the Premier League weekend is one he will be looking to run and quickly get back to his best. Watford have however proven to be a tricky opposition, winning four of their first five premier league matches. It will undoubtedly be an interesting battle in the midfield against the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure.

It’s all about building up that confidence and getting some look good statistics next to their names now and forever. This weekend is one such opportunity, will the sons of the African soil in Ghezzal and Seri seize the opportunity and be the match-winners they have always been yet again?

2018 Prix Marc-Vivien Foe Award: Celebrating African players in Ligue 1

Since 2009, Radio France International and France 24 compile a list of the top performing African footballers in the Ligue 1 which will be subjected to a voting process to decide the ultimate winner at the end of every season. This year's 13-man shortlist has been announced and Burkina Faso’s Bertrand Traore, Togo’ Mathieu Dossevi and Cape Verde’s Julio Tavares are the early favorites to walk away with the award.

Last year’s winner, Jean Michael Seri is also on the list, looking to emulate his countryman, Gervinho who won the award in two consecutive years (2010-11). Lyon’s marksman, Bertrand Traore has enjoyed his maiden season in France, scoring on nine occasions and registering two assists. Tavares has eleven goals to his name while Dossevi has the fifth highest joint assists tally, sitting at eight.

Here is the full list of the 13 finalists:

• Keita BALDÉ DIAO (AS MONACO / SENEGAL / Forward / 23 years old)

• Matthieu DOSSEVI (FC METZ / TOGO / Midfielder / 30 years old)

• Max-Alain GRADEL (TOULOUSE FC / CÔTE D'IVOIRE / Forward / 30 years old)

• Gaël KAKUTA (AMIENS SC / DR CONGO / Midfielder / 26 years old)

• Wahbi KHAZRI ( RENNAIS STAGE / TUNISIA / Forward / 27 years old)

• Moussa KONATÉ (AMIENS SC / SENEGAL / Forward / 25 years old)

• Nicolas PÉPÉ (LOSC LILLE / COTE D'IVOIRE / Forward/ 22 years old)

• Jean Michaël SÉRI (OGC NICE / COTE D'IVOIRE / Midfielder / 26 years old)

• Julio TAVARES (DIJON FCO / CAPE VERDE / Forward / 29 years old)

• Karl TOKO EKAMBI (SCO ANGERS / CAMEROON / Forward / 25 years old)

• Bertrand TRAORE (OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS / BURKINA FASO / Forward / 22 years old)

• Hamari TRAORÉ (RENNAIS STAGE / MALI / Defender / 26 years old)

• André-Frank ZAMBO ANGUISSA (OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE / CAMEROON / Midfielder / 22 years old)

The winner will be announced on the 14th of May.

Previous winners of the award include Marouane Chamakh, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Vincent Enyeama, Gervinho, Andre Ayew, Younes Belhanda and Jean Michael Seri.

This award was named the Prix Marc-Vivien Foe award in 2011, in honor of the Cameroon International, Foe, who passed away on 26 June 2003 on the lawn of the Gerland Stadium in Lyon whilst representing the Indomitable Lions in the Confederations Cup tournament.