10 African Players Impressing In UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is club football’s most prestigious competition. African players have long excelled in the tournament, and this year is no different. From Morocco to South Africa, AFKSports compiles a list of 10 African superstars that have been eye catching in this year’s tournament.
Islam Slimani (Sporting, Algeria)
In Lisbon, the debate over who should lead Sporting’s front line has been effectively put to bed. Though the Colombian Fredy Montero is the more technically accomplished option, Islam Slimani’s ruthlessness has proved indispensable for The Lions. The 26 year-old Algerian possesses an extremely efficient goal-scoring record in league play. He has already tallied four goals in five matches in the Portuguese Liga. In Europe, however, he has failed to find the mark in two matches. Sporting would welcome an away goal in Gelsenkirchen as the Lions chase their first win in the group stage.
Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Ghana)
‘Kojo’ Asamoah has undergone an incremental and natural progression in the early stages of his career. In 2010 he was elected CAF’s Most Promising Player and he immediately built on the accolade. His excellent play on the left flank and in central midfield earned him a move to Italian champions Juventus. In Turin, the Ghanaian utility man was often positioned at the wingback position, dominating the left flank. With the arrival of Patrice Evra, Asamoah has assumed a more prominent role alongside Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba. In his only Champions League appearance, Asamoah provided an assist in a 2-0 win versus Malmo.
Delvin Ndinga (Olympiakos, Congo)
In the midst of midfield chaos, Delvin Ndinga is the calm in a storm. He often keeps a cool head, and dictates tempo, controlling possession play. The Monaco-owned man is not physically imposing; rather, he impacts matches with intelligently timed tackles and interceptions. After featuring for Olympiakos 33 times last season, the Greek champions have agreed to renew his loan, taking the Congolese stalwart on for one more season. In Group A, Ndinga contributed to a monumental 3-2 upset against Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid, and he started in a 2-0 loss to Swedish champions Malmo.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Schalke, Cameroon)
Schalke acquired Choupo-Moting free of charge in the summer after his contract expired at Mainz, and he has been turning heads since. The Cameroonian forward has exceeded all expectations, bagging three goals and two assists in just eight matches. The hot streak has seen Choupo-Moting start all eight of Schalke’s league matches despite facing stiff competition from Julian Draxler, Sidney Sam, and Max Meyer. The boys from Gelsenkirchen remain winless in Group G, and will look to their new signing to produce a moment of magic against Sporting on Tuesday night.
Gervinho (Roma, Cote D’Ivoire)
Leaving North London revitalized Gervinho’s career. In Rome he is afforded a degree of confidence and trust that he never found at Emirates Stadium. The Ivorian livewire has carried his good form into the new season, scoring two goals and pitching in with an assist in the current Champions League campaign. Gervinho’s electrifying speed will be of great utility to Rudi Garcia, especially when counter-attacking against possession-based opposition in the mould of Manchester City or Bayern Munich.
Yacine Brahimi (Porto, Algeria)
Porto were one of several clubs who had to contest a play-off round for Champions League qualification. Lille were paired with the club from Oporto in August. After a tenacious nil-nil in France, Yacine Brahimi ensured that he and his club would be playing Champions League football with an astounding performance at the Estadio do Dragao. The pint-sized magician could not be stopped, nutmegging defenders, assisting his striker partner Jackson Martinez, before scoring himself. His goal was a 30-yard free-kick that was lifted over the wall and out of reach of the outstretched Vincent Enyeama. The Algerian maestro has been able to reproduce such performances in the group stage, scoring a hat-trick at home against BATE Borisov, and torturing Shakhtar Donetsk defenders in a 2-2 draw. Look for him to continue his outstanding form.
Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Ghana)
After misfiring on Dominic Adiyiah, and Richmond Boakye, Ghana finally have a young prodigious striker to get excited about. Frank Acheampong has played at the U20 level for the Black Stars, particularly starring in 2013 Africa Youth Championship Qualifying, which took place in Morocco. He would proceed to score 2 goals against Morocco, prompting Belgian giants Anderlecht to invest in his talent. Acheampong has rewarded their faith on the pitch, scoring a handful of vital goals last season. The 20-year old striker has started this season in the same vein, notching an equalizer against Lierse in the opening weekend of league play. Though he has started on the left flank in most matches, Acheampong forms a tremendous partnership with fellow youngster Aleksandr Mitrovic.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Gabon)
Jurgen Klopp has a myriad of attacking weapons at his disposal in this year’s edition of the Champions League. Ciro Immobile, Adrian Ramos, and Marco Reus are but a few competing with Gabonese striker for starting positions. Nevertheless Aubameyang has played a vital role for Dortmund who are experts at breaking on counter-attacks with pace. He was lethal against Arsenal, hitting the bar on one break, and scoring a goal in another. Galatasaray will be sure to keep a watchful eye on him.
Mehdi Benatia (Bayern Munich, Morocco)
Mehdi Benatia is one of a handful of elite centre-halves in the modern game. When he made his ambitions to leave Roma clear, European super-clubs queued in an attempt to acquire his services. In the end, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich decided to sign the ball-playing stopper. Though he is in his early career with the German champions, the Moroccan colossus is expected to take to life in Bavaria swimmingly. His skill on the ball should perfectly complement Bayern’s expansive possession-based passing style.
Thulani Serero (Ajax, South Africa)
Thulani Serero has found plenty of success at the club level, coming off of the back of an extremely encouraging 2013/14 for Ajax. The South African is a complete midfielder, equipped with the creativity to unlock the most stubborn of defences. In some ways, Serero has blossomed as Christian Eriksen’s successor in Ajax’s 4-3-3. The Amsterdammers have been placed in an unwinnable Group F alongside European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. If the Dutch Champions are to have any chance of progressing as runners-up, they will need Serero at his very best, beginning this Tuesday night in Barcelona.