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3 Africans lighting up the Chinese Super League
African footballers are everywhere, lighting up the stages fortunate enough to have them. The Chinese Super League is not the least of them, as the competition has seen an increase of foreign imports due to the financial backing many of the clubs have. Here are three stars stealing the headlines.
In recent years, players have been moving to the Chinese Super League mostly to wind down their careers. The Chinese have invested billions of dollars into their football project to make it attractive for players. At first, the older players from Europe, the likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka fit the profiles of the footballers who switched continents and understandably so. However, Oscar’s move from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG at the age of 24 sparked a movement that not many had predicted. Many younger players have since moved to Asia to play in front of the Chinese fans in exchange for a bigger cheque. In this piece, we focus our attentions to the three best African players who have been lighting up the Chinese Super League this year.
Odion Ighalo
Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina slides in to tackle Odion Ighalo of Nigeria during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
(June 25, 2018 - Source: Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images Europe)
Odion Ighalo is first up on the list of the on-form players. The Nigerian international has been potent in front of goal, scoring a total of 21 goals and providing a single assist in just 28 matches. These are Thierry Henry-like stats that the Nigerian is achieving in the Chinese Super League. It is delightful to see the Nigerian regain his confidence in front of goal after a dreadful World Cup outing where he was not his usual self as he fluffed a lot of chances. Ighalo was heavily criticised in the aftermath of the tourney and must have used this criticism to boost his adrenaline and push harder for his club. He has been nothing short of exciting as he has been firing on all cylinders for Changchun Yatai in the Chinese Super League. His goals however, do not reflect the performance of the rest of the team as the club currently ended the season in the 15th position on the table. The defence let in quite a number of goals in the 29 matches they have played this season which has resulted in their automatic relegation to the second division for next season. Rest assured, if they sort out the defence and Odion Ighalo keeps on scoring like he drinks water, his club will be back in the Chinese Super League calendar in no time.
Cedric Bakambu
Then there is Cedric Bakambu who plays for Beijing Guoan. Bakambu has also scored 21 goals and created 4 goals for his teammates in 23 Chinese Super League fixtures. The player switched leagues to the CSL from Spanish side, Villarreal in a then record transfer for an African player early this year. The Congolese forward is predominantly deployed in the attacking midfield roles for his club where he is causing a lot of damage from the middle. The 27 year old is influencing the games in the Chinese Super League like the way how Lionel Messi bosses the Spanish La Liga with his freedom to roam all over the pitch finding pockets of spaces to exploit. The Asians are fortunate to have the forward in his prime after a number of clubs in Europe sought after his talents in January 2018 before he made the decision to follow in the footsteps of an African legend in Didier Drogba who also moved to China after his time in Europe.
“The 27 year old is influencing the games in the Chinese Super League like the way how Lionel Messi bosses the Spanish La Liga with his freedom to roam all over the pitch finding pockets of spaces to exploit. ”
Ayub Timbe
Cedric Bakambu of Villarreal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final first leg match between Villarreal CF and Sparta Prague at El Madrigal on April 7, 2016 in Villarreal, Spain.
(April 6, 2016 - Source: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images Europe)
Kenyan forward, Ayub Timbe makes up the list of the three best African players who took the Chinese Super League by storm this season. The centre-forward was recalled from loan by his parent club Beijing Renhe to help them extend their unbeaten run between July and August. Ayub Timbe scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists for his teammates as he helped his team to an 8th place finish in the league. The 26-year old deserves some credit for his heroics in the CSL considering the returns he has given his club which surpasses that of other forwards who played more than double the matches he played in. In Timbe, Kenya have another soccer player who is raising the Kenyan colours high alongside Victor Wanyama at Tottenham and Michael Olunga in the Japanese League.
That’s it for the top African players in the Chinese Super League. Follow them on their journey as they lift the African flag high in a league that is improving year on year.
Odion Ighalo does not fear for his life!
After a disappointing 2018 FIFA World cup campaign with no goals to his name or an inspiring performance as consolation, the Nigerian forward became more than just a scapegoat as death threats made him reconsider his career. Read full story here.
Oghenekaro Etebo, Odion Ighalo, Leon Balogun and Francis Uzoho stand dejected after conceding the opening goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Croatia and Nigeria at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 16, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia.
(June 15, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)
There are so many things that soccer players go through outside the pitch that the fans seldom pay little attention to. Some players go through emotional torture because of the abuse that comes from the fans when they are not performing well, and some are forced to fear for their lives. This is the story of a certain Nigerian who is one of the many players that have been threatened by their own fans in the midst of a bad performance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Former Watford centre forward, Odion Ighalo was one of the first names on the Nigerian team sheet at the recent FIFA World Cup hosted in the cold land of the Russians. He played in Nigeria’s first match in the tournament against Croatia where his nation fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the eventual finalists. He tried his best in front of goal but to no avail and was eventually demoted to the bench in the following match against Iceland. All his efforts in the tournament have gone down the drain in the memories of the radical fans who feel that his only contribution was to huff and puff goal-scoring opportunities. Ighalo has since received death threats from numerous people on his social media accounts which is unacceptable. The player goes to lengths to score a number of goals for his country only to be paid back by insults when he is out of form.
“It was painful but not enough to make me quit the country.”
Odion Ighalo of Nigeria and John Stones of England in action during the International Friendly match between England and Nigeria at Wembley Stadium on June 2, 2018 in London, England.
(June 1, 2018 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)
This is not the first time that a player or coach received death threats because of unfortunate circumstances. Former Chelsea and Italy national team coach, Antonio Conte fell prey to similar attacks from Juventus fans who blamed him for the injury of Claudio Marchisio in August 2014. Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio revealed that Conte received death threats on the internet. Soccer fans are entitled to their opinions and reactions after bad performances but there is a line ought to be drawn in terms of expression.
Death threats have a toll on a player’s mindset whenever they play as they feel unsafe, even in their own country. Ighalo talked to BBC Sport after revealing that not only him but his family too received such threats.
After all, we need to remember that soccer is a sport made possible by these players who represent our clubs and national teams. The players are human beings and have emotions which need to be protected like any other. No one deserves to feel unsafe especially after working their socks off for the love of the game only to be attacked by the very same people they sacrifice a lot for.
Denounce these actions and save the lives and careers of our players. We are with you Ighalo!
Abroad: Nigeria’s Ighalo talks about life in China
"When I went there I was expecting a lower class of the league but when I arrived I saw how tough it is and said this is not what I had heard about.”
The Super Eagles and the Changchun Yatai striker has opened up about what it is like playing in the Chinese Super League. Odion Ighalo moved to Asia in 2017 from English side, Watford. He seems to have adapted to life in China, alluding that football is actually competitive in CSL than he initially thought or what most people would think because of the influx of foreign players and managers. Ighalo scored 15 goals in 27 appearances in his first season and now he has 1 in 3 matches.
"When I went there I was expecting a lower class of the league but when I arrived I saw how tough it is and said this is not what I had heard about.” - Odion Ighalo
The Super Eagles striker is also encouraging other African players to consider a move to the CSL should the opportunity beckon.
"If the opportunity jumps on them and they think properly about it, they should go because it's an opportunity to make some money, play in Asia and to experience the life and culture there." - Odion Ighalo