When speaking of football, Africa has always been one of the best places for European football teams to find their next big stars. African-born football stars have always been one of the main reasons why the teams they play for usually have an edge when it comes to wagering purposes, even in betting sites that focus more on American activities like Las Vegas NFL odds predictions.
Players like George Weah, Nwankwo Kanu, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, and many others have managed to make sure the world knows that when it comes to football excellence, Africa is one of the shining beacons of the world. The list is endless and it continues growing as time goes by.
With all the top European soccer leagues already well on their ways, let’s take this time to focus and showcase three of the best African football players right now.
Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegal, Napoli
When you think of African football players, most likely your mind will travel towards offensive midfielders or attacking players, but not necessarily a defender, but when Senegalese superstar defender Kalidou Koulibaly enters the conversation, you know you’re talking about one of the absolute best defenders in the world.
Born in France but of Senegalese parents, Koulibaly has made Italian club Napoli his home since 2015 and he has managed to become one of the most important defenders not only in the defense forward Italian Serie A but also in the world football scene all-around.
After joining Napoli from Belgian side Genk, Koulibaly’s career truly took off, making him one of the absolute most sought-after defenders in all of professional football.
Every year that passes, Koulibaly is constantly linked with teams like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and other football giants because of his out-of-this-world skills. Koulibaly is a perfect mix of size, strength, and yet a finesse when it comes to defending and a football IQ that is almost unmatched by any other defender out there.
There’s no reasoning as to why Napoli has always been very hesitant to even think about the idea of Koulibaly leaving their squad to join any other team.
Achraf Hakimi, Morocco, PSG
If you’re only 22 years old and have already managed to play for Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and PSG, you know you must be doing something very good with your life.
That’s exactly the case with Moroccan international right-back Achraf Hakimi, who at only 22 years of age, has already managed to leave his mark in four of Europe’s strongest leagues, all while becoming one of the best right-back defenders in all of professional football.
Hakimi’s talents don’t only stem from his defensive qualities, but his speed has also helped him become a wizard when it comes to goal scoring and above all assisting in goal-scoring plays, with his crossing abilities being almost unmatched.
While he had an unfair time at Real Madrid, being brought into the first team to substitute Spanish team legend Dani Carvajal, only to see his playing time be cut back once the Spaniard was back, it was after being sent to Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, a team known for being one of the best squads for young, up and coming players to start developing their all-star careers at, that Hakimi took off.
Soon after Real Madrid sold Hakimi to Inter Milan, where he once again stood out, helping the team reach their title win in the 2020-21 campaign, that title being the first in an extended period.
Of course, Real Madrid saw this and wanted his right-back wunderkind back, but for Hakimi, a €70 million move to PSG was his next stop. Now at PSG, Hakimi continues to amaze fans with his speed, both offensive and defensive prowesses, and the vast talents he has, especially for such a young age.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Egypt
If there is one thing that’s for sure, is that as soon as Mohamed Salah decides to leave Liverpool, a statue in his honor should be erected. Even before joining Liverpool, Salah had already been creating a very strong career for himself in teams like Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina, and AS Roma.
But it wasn’t until he joined Liverpool in 2017, forming alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino one of the best offensive tridents in the world that his career as one of the best wingers in the world truly took off. Salah has been the spear point in Liverpool’s recent successes, including a Champions League title win and an EPL title win, one that had been escaping the team for endless years now.
He has managed to continuously be Liverpool’s most dangerous attacker, always staying right at the top of all EPL Golden Boot award competitions, winning it in his first season at Liverpool.
This season he continues to show off his dominant performing self, being the top goal scorer in the present EPL season. He is also considered the best Egyptian football player in history and was a fundamental part in helping his national team reach the 2018 FIFA Russia World Cup Tournament.
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