As 2021 makes way for 2022, we take a look back to see which African players made the strongest mark on Europe’s top leagues. But we didn’t want to simply make a list. Rather, we’re picking a team of players as if they will be playing in an actual match. And believe us, few would bet against a team like this.Just as always, we invite you to pick your own team and tell us why it’s better than the one we’re presenting here. But please – don’t cheat and try to put five strikers or two goalkeepers in. We need a functional, balanced team that wouldn’t look out of place in a game. As for formations – you’re free to act as a coach and pick any plausible position you see fit.While you think it over, please allow us to present our XI to you.GoalkeeperEdouard Mendy – Senegal & ChelseaWe just love this guy. Every time he speaks about his life path and his humble beginnings, we just want to hug him and say well done. But that isn’t why we picked him here, oh no. He’s got so much quality and the right attitude to let his quality show. In 2021 he’s won the most valuable trophy in Europe – the UEFA Champions League. He enjoyed the confidence of Thomas Tuchel enough to earn a place on the team ahead of Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga. And he repaid the trust with great performances all year long.Edouard Mendy is on his way to AFCON with Senegal! 🛫🇸🇳[via iG: edou_mendy] pic.twitter.com/yQfjR970w2— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) January 2, 2022 DefendersAchraf Hakimi – Morocco & Paris Saint-Germain/InterHakimi is easily one of the best right-backs in the world right now. The former Real Madrid man found his home in Milan in the shirt of Napoli and he was one of the key men in Antonio Conte’s side that’s won the Serie A title after a decade-long wait. Solid at the back, dangerous in attack and capable of galloping up and down the pitch all day, Hakimi was understandably targeted by moneybags PSG. He jumped on the opportunity to join the Parisians and become teammates with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar etc.Hakimi in action with Messi (©AFP)Edmond Tapsoba – Burkina Faso & Bayer 04 LeverkusenThis youngster of 22 years has only began playing organized football at the age of 14. After just four years of playing in his homeland, he was transferred to Vitoria de Guimaraes in Portugal where his progress sped up even more. Less than a year ago, in late January 2021, he moved to a vastly different league and country. Bayer Leverkusen paid the Portuguese club just under $20 million for the centre-back. It was a masterstroke. Tapsoba took to Bundesliga like fish to water and became a first-team regular for one of the best teams in the country.AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS – WINNERS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP (ODDS)Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal & NapoliAh, the big man. Koulibaly has been a rock in a Napoli side that’s been through a year of turmoil. The Neapolitans just missed out on a place in the Champions League on the last day of the 2020/21 campaign. Coach Gennaro Gattuso was gone and was replaced by Luciano Spalletti. Many things have changed, but Koulibaly has remained ever-present and dependable. During every transfer window, there are rumours linking him with a big-money transfer, but he doesn’t seem in a hurry to leave Naples.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Joel Matip – Liverpool & CameroonMatip is like a fine wine. The older he gets, the better he is. Despite Liverpool’s strong transfer activity and multiple defensive reinforcements, Matip has remained Jurgen Klopp’s go-to man. Calm and composed, the Cameroon international has been excellent alongside Virgil van Dijk. Last season he missed five months of action due to a bad ankle injury, but the 30-year-old returned stronger than ever.🥁 Your Liverpool Region Man of The Match for Liverpool v Leicester City is… Joel Matip 🔴Team full of Matip’s anyone? #LFC pic.twitter.com/LZ8ovcKhf2— Liverpool Region (@liverpoolregion) December 29, 2021 Ramy Bensebaini – Borussia Monchengladbach & AlgeriaOK, we’ll come clean: the left-back position was the hardest to pick. There weren’t too many to choose from if we’re being honest. But it wouldn’t be fair to say that is the only reason Ramy made this team. He has been the first-choice left-back for a team that’s trying to break into the upper echelons of Germany football after a long period of hibernation. Bensebaini has been ever-present in Bundesliga and Europa League games for Der Borussia. He’s already scored four goals for his team this season, adding another dimension to his game.MidfieldersFranck Kessie – Ivory Coast & AC MilanHaters are quick to point out the number of penalties scored, but those people probably don’t even like football, so why listen to them? Franck Kessie has been arguably the best player of the Rossoneri in the past two seasons. His amazing work rate and ability to dictate the tempo of play make him the first name on Stefano Pioli’s team sheet. Lately, his reluctance to sign a new contract has made Milan fans awfully nervous. The former Atalanta man may could do the same thing Gianluigi Donnarumma’s done a year previously: to decline any contract offers and accept a lucrative offer from elsewhere. For a player of his ability, there will surely be many suitors.Premier League clubs want him badly but he says he wishes to end his career with the RossoneriYves Bissouma – Mali & BrightonAfter three years of absence, Mali have recalled the midfielder to their AFCON squad – and it was about time. He wasn’t absent due to a lack of quality, of course – but because of a spat with the coach Mohamed Magassouba. The 25-year-old has been instrumental in Seagulls’ season under Graham Potter. The 16th place doesn’t seem like something to write home about, but Bissouma has done great to secure survival in the world’s most competitive league. And you needn’t take our word for it. Brighton supporters have voted the Malian as Brighton Fans’ Footballer of the Year for 2021.ForwardsMohamed Salah – Egypt & LiverpoolIt’s Mo, for God’s sake. It’s Mo. We could list all his numbers, but there are unbelievable anyway. It’s Mo.Children of Egypt will learn about Salah in the primary schoolSebastien Haller – Ivory Coast & AjaxThe tall striker often looked a bit lost while he was trying to make sense of life at West Ham United. But Ajax, the Dutch giants with arguably the best scouting in the world have been watching him closely and decided that he’s exactly what they need to get back on the top of European football. Ajax paid $25 million to sign the big striker in January but made a big blunder by forgetting to register him for European competition. He wouldn’t be put off by that, though. Since arriving in the Netherlands, Haller scored 33 in 42 games, including 10 strikes in six Champions League appearances.Haller is fuming over the disrespect of the AFCON and AfricaVictor Osimhen – Nigeria & NapoliThe Lagos-born striker has already tasted football in his motherland, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy despite only just turning 23. His numbers speak for themselves as he established himself as one of best strikers in Serie A. Since joining Napoli from Lille in September 2020, the $80 million-man has bagged 15 goals and five assists in the league, which is considered a fantastic return for a player that’s still learning the ropes in the tactically-demanding football culture. He’s currently recovering from a tricky facial injury and remains a doubt for AFCON. Whether he recovers in time to represent the Super Eagles in Cameroon, we’re sure that Osimhen will go from strength to strength and become one of the best in business.
