African football has come a long way since the invention of perhaps the continent’s most important tournament, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
We have since then seen the rise of key influential players who have gone ahead to play for great European clubs. We have highlighted the best candidates to represent African teams based on their track record. So without further ado, let’s dive straight into it!
Sadio Mane
Born on April 10th, 1992, Sadio Mane goes down as one of the greatest footballers in Africa. He played as a left winger at Liverpool, where he had an astounding career.
In the 2019-2020 season, he aided Liverpool in doing away with the 30-year title drought and also in winning the Champions League in 2019. Mane, who originally hails from Senegal, is, without doubt, the first choice since he has continuously kept in touch with his roots, even after being named Premier League player of the year in 2019.
This key player also helped his country win Africa’s most illustrious tournament in 2021, making it the highlight of his career, according to the winger.
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal fans must be feeling the very visible emptiness on the right wing with Bukayo still recovering from his injury. The 23-year-old English right winger has proven to be very instrumental in the Gunners’ pursuit of the title.
While young, unlike most of the contenders on this list, Saka has continuously displayed prowess in his gameplay. As a matter of fact, he is a punter’s favorite since he almost always scores provided the ball gets on his left foot. So once he gets back into action, be sure to use the gsb promotion code when he’ll be playing to boost your odds.
His parents are originally from Nigeria and Saka even celebrated when the Super Eagles advanced to the final only to lose to Ivory Coast. With his representation, his home club can achieve wonders!
Mohammed Salah
Mohammed Salah is a well-known name in the Premier League and it comes as no coincidence that he played alongside Sadio Mane at Liverpool. The Egyptian king currently holds the record for most scored goals in the Premier League, eyeing the Golden Boot.
While not the biggest or most athletic, any team represented by Mo Salah is bound to do well. His home country, Egypt, is currently the top holder in terms of the number of times he has won the competition. He has also shown commitment to the cause, going the extra mile to collect an injury in the last tournament, making him miss about five games for Liverpool.
Kylian Mbappe
No football fan can miss the name Kylian Mbappe in their current top player repertoire presently. Mbappe made a name for himself while playing at his recent club, Paris Saint-Germain, before moving to Real Madrid.
The 26-year-old French player has a striking pace and even better ball control. This is very evident even in their recent Champions Fixture, where he scored a hat trick. His pace and prowess make him a great choice to represent Cameroon’s team, which is where his father is originally from.
Kylian Mbappe has also had the chance to play with the highest echelon of modern footballers at PSG. He played alongside Messi and Neymar, who currently ranks as the best of this generation. With that experience, his team should be good to go.
And with that, we sum up the list of potential candidates to represent African national teams. The continent is brimming with potential with many stars like Mohammed Salah and Bukayj Saka playing for different leagues. However, if given the chance, they would greatly revolutionize football in Africa!
