Five countries each from Southern and East Africa did not have professional players. Africa is the home to many people of many races, black, white, asian, mixed, you name it. All of them remitted money which, according to the players, can be termed as an African culture. Osimhen is a world cup winner at FIFA U-17 level, and he is the record goalscorer at U-17 World cups. Antwi started his career with West African Football Academy, he was promoted to the senior team in March 2021 ahead of the second round of the 2020-21 season after distinguishing himself with the academy's U17 side. Polish government slammed for 'instrumentalizing' Holocaust. Because the style and demands are different, suitinf the west Africans more as they are more used to them than the rest of Africa. "Egyptians compete successfully because they're doing something different," Noakes explains. But it is certainly not a top factor as some may think. I don't subscribe to these racial theories.Egypt won the last two African Nations Cups, I believe.Zinedine Zidane was of Algerian (North African/Arab)ethnic origin. #39 makes a good point and its a great blog. As well as his individual honors, Toure has also won La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Super Cup, FA Cup and Premier League titles. He played for FC Porto, where he won three Portuguese League titles and one Champions . "In Kenya, we only have one Fifa-approved agent and right now he's relocated to Australia," says football official Hussein Swaleh. And where is Essien? Even if they win both the world and European cup with with their respective countries. The proof is that Egypt usually struggles at the qualifying stages of both the ACN and WC. The former England Youth international won the African cup of Nations for Nigeria in 2013, a tournament he starred in. how come Ayew and Yaya Toure are on that list instead of having Gedo or Zidan?!! The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. His career has been on the continued rise. Never mind all the genetic/geographical stuff going on here.. the real quesiton should be how Yaya Toure ever got nominated for anything.. the guy lumbers about the park slower than a week in jail..I have to say the majority of African teams I have seen have all been a fair size and very athletic looking compared to other national teams.. this size issue with regards to West African team may be more down to them having more players in top European teams.. thus having to attain a higher standard of fitness and generally looking more athletic.. 'So good they named him twice', Jay-Jay Okocha has been immortalized by the incredible things he could do on the football pitch. As the football frenzy spreads and more locals get in the game, West African success stories like Chizoba's will become less common. The soccer academy was found back in 1998 by Feyenoord. Complain about this comment (Comment number 5). Over time, players grow increasingly frustrated and realise the impossibility of escaping marginality in Polish football. Cameroon is not in west Africa. In light of the limited adequate opportunities in Scandinavian football, many former players return to West Africa to look for opportunities to remain in football as coaches or player agents. The image of an accomplished high-profile West African football star who embodies the masculine ideal of an independent and responsible adult man, capable of financially supporting his relatives and community, further underpins the shared sentiment. Many believe he should have won the Ballon dOr award in 2019 instead of Lionel Messi. Today, over 150 years later, itis the most popular. Cameroon alone has won it four times and the last three times consecutively. Liberia's George Weah, meanwhile, is the only African to be crowned Fifa World Player of the Year. Great names stand out: Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Abedi Pele and Michael Essien (Ghana), Ivorian Didier Drogba, and Roger Milla and Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) to name but a few. However, its easier to knock someone like Mustapha Hadji off the ball than a Didier Drogba say, as even the Moroccan admits: While in England I tried to be as strong as a Drogba but simply wasnt, so I constantly tried to improve myself as technical quality is not enough in the UK. West Point's all black football team emerges from forgotten 1920s photos. The Ayew brothers (Jordan and Andre)are children of the great Abedi Pele. I'm afraid I disagree with many of the points given.With regards to being bigger and more physical, Algeria proved that was nonsense in the WC and ACN where, especially in the ACN, Algeria had more than half their squad towering over the african competitors they played against. Since 2006 he has moved from Monaco, to Barcelona, to Manchester City where he has made history in establishing the club as a powerhouse in world soccer. Also, when you look at the likes of Zidan, Al Muhammadi, Shikabala, Taarabt, Ziani, Belhadj, Ghezzal, Matmour and Meghni, you can't exactly call them slow can you?So that throws the genetic idea out of the window.Another point is that it's fair to say that the North African nations are all more technically adept at playing football than their subsaharan counterparts. With all respect to those choose this shortlist of players as the best in Africa yet how come a nation like Egypt who won the ACN for a 3rd successive time making global history is not represented by atleast one player in that list when they have the likes of Zidan, Gedo and Treka on their side?!! Didier Drogba was the first Ivorian to win the award in 2006. Even fewer Africans are making it to the I-League or the ISL. Complain about this comment (Comment number 13). Voir les partenaires de TheConversation France. This involved strategising to overcome the challenges with the contributions from significant others in the communities to become successful professionally abroad. However, both Aboutreika (2008) and Mohamed Barakat (2005) have recently won the BBC award while playing at home in Egypt. Have a close look at Cameroon or Nigeria's record with France, Spain, England and Italy in the last 10-15 years and tell me whether I'm wrong in my analyses or not. Eventually, when players became professional abroad and were being rewarded financially, some remitted in various ways to the country they came from. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the first player from Gabon to win the award in 2015. He made his international debut for Mali in 2015, and was part of their squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 and 2019. Complain about this comment (Comment number 47), It's unfair that they remove my comment. "East Africans are of course the distance runners - with a much smaller, lighter frame and the southern and northern Africans largely share that build. Looking back through the history of African football we picked the 10 greatest African football players of all time. Eto'o has 4 African Player of the Year prizes to his name. And while 'Someone Less Imaginative Stole My Username' is right to question the oversimplification of Mr Noakes' theory (and gave three fine examples of solidly built Northern Africans to back up his argument) I think his point was 'bigger' not 'taller', and while I still agree that is is a generalisation, it is one with 'some' evidence to back it up. They have similar diets.Having said that west Africans are more stronger and athletic than the rest of their African counterparts. When looked at economically some of the poorest countries, and those with the some of the lowest scores on the H.D.I., are those located in East Africa, hence no money to put into any sort of grass roots football.The only thing that does puzzle me about African football and especially Egypt, is why in the Africa Cup of Nations do Egypt beat teams like Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon etc. Since the early 1980s, India opened its doors to African players when young Nigerian players caught the attention of local clubs. Anthony Brebo. "West Africans are bigger and stronger than the rest of the continent - with the world's best sprinters originating from the area.". He was the joint highest goal scorer in the 2018/2019 Premier League season; surely, there is none better than Sadio Mane from West Africa. The West African advantage can be traced to dietary origins. Maradona - of native Argentinain Indian stock, and Zidane - of Algerian Arab stock. (look at what you did to the Algerian players before the playoff for world cup qualifications). In addition, they had built social relations and networks via the societal support and contributions to help them achieve their professional status abroad. Two months after, he made his debut on 12 May 2021 as a starter against Medeama, played 67 minutes before being substituted for Derrick Mensah Antwi who also came on to make his debut. Some players are forced to look for extra sources of income to supplement their meagre football salaries. Sadio Man beat Robbie Fowlers previous record of the fastest Premier League hat-trick in 4 minutes 33 seconds (Liverpool vs. Arsenal on 28 Aug 1994) doing his in 2 minutes and 56 seconds. As will its diet. The inaugural winner was Didier Drogba. In 1998, Morocco's Mustapha Hadji won both - and he is, remarkably, the only non-West African to have won the Caf title in 21 years. CARY, N.C. -- West Ham United F.C. Can't say for certain, but I don't believe Cameroon is considered a West African state, in Africa at least. Perhaps the best left footer on this list. Two Cameroonian football players Austin and Nelson stand in front of their home in a village in the south of Poland, which they shared with fellow footballers two Cameroonians and three Brazilians throughout the 2014/2015 season. In addition the French equivalent of the English commonwealth was a more fraternal society, hence France continues to have overseas territories to this day. Gyan is currently proving he's a quality player so I wouldn't say he's totally undeserving of a place. Out of the thousands of young football hopefuls, only a tiny fraction will get a chance to migrate abroad to play football professionally. i wouldn't say its Aboutreika's "failure" to play overseas. Yaya didn't play for Barca, had a bad WC and has been below average with City. They had also been able to mobilise other kinds of support such as documentation, money, sport kits and gear. Their style of play is completely different and they adopt a more european style of play. "At first I never wanted to come, because I never heard of anyone who went to India to play," the 31-year-old tells DW. The French, Belgians, Italians, Portuguese and Spaniards have either set football academies in Africa or go looking for players there. Well, that France side had three North Africans in it - Nasri, Benzema and Rami. By the way Ghananian players are no diffent from the average African players in terms of physique but good coaching has propelled Ghana to higher levels over the years. He has played for European powerhouses such as Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea, and currently plays for Sampdoria; Eto'o has over 360 career league goals in over 750 career games. It is a historical fact that the French policy on colonies was assimilation rather than domination which was practiced by the British.All those African players who have made a mark in big European leagues did so via the french league because the french have always been accommodative of their former subjects than the British. the Black players in England's national team). Argentina stuck to their guns, as did Spain. His career has been on the continued rise. Japan played the ball on the floor and brushed aside Denmark. The attackers, however, both got a -1 downgrade in EA Sports' newest . The more arabic nothern fringe of the region, is composed of the same Massiah-Fulani-Hausa heritage. First, they enhanced local and regional developmental activities. Playing remarkable football with a smile on his face, Okocha became loved throughout the game. In 2012, he was voted Chelsea's greatest player of all time, he is their fourth top scorer of all-time and the Ivory Coast's all-time top scorer. He invented the so-called 'Blind Pass' and made 147 caps for Algeria, featuring in two World Cups, four African Cup of Nations, two Mediterranean Games and an Olympic Games. He is pacy and skillful and loves to cut in from the right, just like Robben. Not saying I agree with it, but to shout racism is slightly over the top. Since then the feat has been repeated twice; firstly by Senegal in 2002 and secondly by Ghana in 2010. The pair also played together for Swansea in the Premier League. Complain about this comment (Comment number 41). Culturally the North Africans I suspect really don't see western success as the ultimate measure in life - the West Africans pretty much do. The same comment applies to the Ivory Coast squad that won the 1992 ACN. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 165,200 academics and researchers from 4,637 institutions. Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson. Leye (30) - in answer to your question, all African footballers are considered for the BBC award, including goalkeepers and players based in Africa itself. "Mentally, West Africans are stronger than us and I'm still unsure why North Africans don't have as much hunger or give up quicker than others," he says. Facebook LinkedIn Many young aspiring footballers in West Africa see professional football, which has become a global multibillion industry, as a pathway out of poverty. Riyad Mahrez won his first award in 2016. Footballwas brought to Africa by British colonials in the mid-1800's and the continent's first documented match took place in 1862 in South Africa. Football wannabes exert themselves across all Africa but the eastern and southern regions, despite huge enthusiasm for football, still trail far behind. Thats why West African players do extra training sessions on own their initiative they run, work out in gyms where they exist, and do football drills. But the U.S. Military Academy did not have . Complain about this comment (Comment number 3). Please remember the likes of Roger Milla in the past, Benny Mc carthy from South Africa or Kalusha Bualia from Zambia. Ifechi and Ifeanyi (both on the right) discuss a plan for the second half of the game (their side trailed 0-3 with the team composed of active players), while two of their teammates stand close and listen. This is regularly put down to, amongst others, generally-superior facilities, salaries (ones which are, importantly, paid on time), administration and the fact that the region's best players have often stayed at home. The former Manchester United winger is a torn in the flesh of defenders. First up and just to clarify, Egypt have won the last three Nations Cup while Mohamed Aboutreika has never won the CAF African Footballer of the Year award - which is perhaps a legacy of his failure to move overseas. Nothing new in what I would say other than piecing the thoughts of others here together.1. The main objective of the academy in Ghana was to be an extension of Feyenoord's youth development in Rotterdam. Second, they helped safeguard the athletes post-playing career. The Best African Players in FIFA 22. Complain about this comment (Comment number 31). Zaha is pacy fluid with his dribbles and mercurial. There is always a risk in linking race (or geographic origin) to athletic and even academic achievement.. Let's take the argument of genetic and its links to football to its logical conclusion. Roger Milla & "My" current best striker in the world Samuel Eto"fils are from east Africa. and guess where is he coming from? Jordan Ayew joined Marseille as a teenager in 2006. Back on the African continent even the very earliest successes by Anglo-phone players in England, are those that came from either France or Germany (Okocha, Yeboah etc.). In passing, I note that there is no South American national football side that has posed Cameroon or Ghana problems as such in the last 10 years. However, the point I was trying to make is theres a rich seam of football talent lying along the West African coast and simply asking why it dominates. Complain about this comment (Comment number 12). 10) Rabah Madjer. George Weah never lived to play in a WC because he came from Liberia. Using some of 'Someone Less Imaginative's' examples, Zidan, Zaki, Aboutrika and Fathalla are roughly the same height as Nigeria's Yakubu. The top scorer at the 2019 African Cup of Nations plays for perhaps the biggest club in the Premier League, Manchester United, where he has proven to be a very shrewd signing as Ole Gunnar Solskjaers side battle to qualify for the 2020/2021 Champions League campaign. Totally disagree with the article.Stick with the facts rather than comparing North and West African physicality and mentality.And the facts are that Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations 7 times, 3 times more than any other nation and have won the least three consecutively. Complain about this comment (Comment number 62). The north africans are more technical, less physical in my opinion..and play at a slower tempo..european and s american nations tend to deal with this better than the more physical style of the west africans, Complain about this comment (Comment number 71). Neverthless, here are the top 10 African footballers of all time. While the Egyptians play well on the continent but have difficulty adjusting abroad (Mido etc.). I was saying there has got to be a reason why west African teams fare better at world tournaments than north Africans, yet when it comes to African championships the honours are even, except maybe at club level where the north Africans just shade it. Andre Ayew & Jordan Ayew are largely loved by Ghanians all over the world and appreciate their contributions to the National team. The West African Footballer of the Year, or The Best of the Best was an association football award. "But West Africans' physical attributes would mean nothing unless there's also the right environment and sportsmen train hard.". The only reason why there are no Egyptian players up for BBC African player of the year is because barely any Egyptians like playing abroad, the only ones i can think of are M. Zidan at Borssia Dortmund, El Saka at Konyaspor and Almuhammedi at Sunderland.Also Egypt beat West african sides on a regular basis, they beat Ivory coast in 2006, in the group stage and in the final, in 2008 they beat cameroon twice and ivoy coast 4 1 in the semis. A dominant striker, Drogba had pace, power, trickery and a lethal finish from almost any range. With the exception of Ghana, Egypt and George Weah in your artical all the countries which have produced winners of the BBC award were colonized by France. Agreeing that West Africans are far stronger physically, Hadji believes it's not the only area where the region boasts an advantage. One of only five African players to be named on Pele's list of the 125 greatest living footballers and twice BBC African Footballer of the Year, Okocha's list of club honors is not as impressive as it should be due to him spending fourof his finest years at Bolton Wanderers where he became a cult figure, although many believed such an outstanding talent should have looked to play for a more competitive team. Cameroon, though geographically not West Africa, shares these common traits. Linking sporting ability to genetics is absurd! Never mind, Gabon who have beaten both Morocco and Algeria in their own backyards.We need to put facts, commonsense and any resulting analyses into perspective rather than advance arguments based on sentiments. While there has been one or two good players from other parts of Africa, the majority have come from west Africa. "Our skill levels are the same but it's mentality that makes the difference.". In 2012 Didier Drogba described him as the "toughest opponent" he ever played against. Neither are physically big and strong like the West Africans but they have excellent skill on the ballOn a similar note, I have often wondered about India and China. After a spell at Arambagh FC, the Bangladesh Football Federationconcluded in 2021, thatplayers and officials of the clubhad been involved in online gaming, betting, and match-fixing, and banned Chizoba and others as a result. I'd compare this to Tongans, Samoans and Fijians in rugby union.their natural size certainly helps their game. How else does one explain Brazil's success. Complain about this comment (Comment number 19). the Egyptian playerswho just beated australia 3/0? Therry Henry and David Beckham will never win European football player award no matter how they perform for their respective clubs in the States. *Editorial note:Chizoba is currently serving atwo-year worldwide banfrom all football-related activities until September 2023. Shouvik Bhattacharjee, formerly of Kolkata's Southern Samity club, says the increased focus on signing foreign players has seengrassroots football and the development of Indian players neglected. Aboutreika of Egypt is another who is a previous African Player of the Year winner. On average, some African players in the elite leagues can earn between 15,000 and 100,000 or more as salaries. First and formost I am African and by the way Pier this is a good blog and thanks for taking the time to show the world some of the greatness we have in Africa. Complain about this comment (Comment number 9). Still going strong, he currently has 148 caps for Egypt. But interestingly, despite the Nations Cup victories, an Egyptian player has won just one Caf best player title and two for the BBC (the latter differing in that it is voted for by fans rather than national coaches). This meant that they had to mobilise resources to support their careers at a formative stage. He did finish second behind Emmanuel Adebayor in 2008, a year when he was voted Africa's best by the BBC's audience. Please do your homework before writing reviews of this kind next time. You can stay up to date with Piers Edwards via these feeds. It was discontinued in 2003. He is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, and very good at breaking opposition attack. The West Africans were more adventurous and ventured outside their borders earlier. Piers Edwards | 11:58 UK time, Friday, 19 November 2010, Gyan, Ayew, Eto'o, Toure and Drogba have been nominated for the BBC African Footballer of 2010. Thanks Kwame for your input in the current debate. And it definitely has nothing to do with North Africa as Morocco has reached the finals 3 more times than Egypt has, and Algeria made it to 2010. Complain about this comment (Comment number 66). Players took very different investment initiatives. Complain about this comment (Comment number 58). There is nothing racist about this observation as others imply. In joint third position with Partey is another midfielder in the Nigerian, Wilfried Ndidi. I watched Japan v Cameroon and Japan v Denmark during the last WC, and, to me, looked like size might actually be a disadvantage if you are on the bigger side. He has drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben due to his style of play. "Such dominance always comes down to genetics and environmental arguments," sports scientist Tim Noakes told me on the line from Cape Town. The history of African football in North Africa, which enabled them to get organized and qualify for the early international competitions. Drogba returned to Chelsea in 2014 where he played between 2004 and 2012. Messi has never been shortlisted for South American football award. Yet he was just as great a player like Zidane. Goalkeeper: Anthony Brebo: Jun 6, 1997 (25) 40. Former West Ham players representing the club at a seven-a-side soccer tournament in North Carolina walked off the pitch after alleged racial abuse. El-Hadary spent his prime and the vast bulk of his career at Egyptian giants Al-Ahly, where he made 510 appearances, spending 12 of his 22-year ongoing career there. Some players can earn as much the equivalent of an average Polish wage of around $1070 a month, while others get less than a minimal wage, or even play for free and only receive small bonuses for games won. Contributions and assistance that constituted a form of giving back did not necessarily connote gifts and counter-gifts. It's just reality: when was the last time a non-West African athlete won the men's 100M at the All African Games? Schokkaert (2016) estimates that around one third of non-European expatriates active in the top European leagues are of African origin, among which players from West African countries, in particular Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Ivory Coast, and Cameroon outshine the rest of the continent (Poli et al., 2019b). It is instructive to note that Okocha was not scouted out of Nigeria. Similarly, Brazil's football is heavily Black - and it needs no re-telling that these players are also the descendants of West Africans.Unfortunately (or luckily, if you are not African), most African football is woefully disorganised (association management, facilities, scouting, coaching, financial backing, legal frameworks, etc). . It remains a far cry from the ISL or the I-League. Okocha was already in Europe when somehow Eintracht Frankfaut got hold of him, and as they say the rest is history. So get out of your bubble and be an African. It was easier for me to play in Spain., Complain about this comment (Comment number 23), Egyptian players with the exception of a few players cannot survive playing overseas. Complain about this comment (Comment number 44). its that he never wanted to play abroad, and that Ahly would make his transfer a nightmare, Complain about this comment (Comment number 24), I ve also developed the suspicion that CAF has been biased more towards black africans then arab africans, wonder if anyone else has noticed this, Complain about this comment (Comment number 25). Their respective weights are: 72kg, 75kg, 79kg, 70kg and 83kg for the Yak. "So I had to get psyched in my mind to reach the top and, as a young boy from Africa, needed to give 150% to get to the first team. A West African, Liberia's George Weah, is the only player from the continent to have been crowned Fifa World Footballer of the Year (in 1995). Doctoral student in Anthropology, University of Amsterdam. Yaya Tour won the award four consecutive times from 2011 to 2014. So they have to depend on the foreign legion to pull them over the top. My English is struggling, I was sitting and doing that comment for a while, I mean it took my time, and now, they just remove it.Anyway African football players are more powerful than European.Cheers, Complain about this comment (Comment number 48). There you have it. and I use those countries specifically as an example because they are the West African "Dominant" teams who qualified to play in South Africa, and Egypt failed to reach the finals? Thereduction to the number of foreign players allowed in the squad to five is a strategic move to aid development ofIndian players, but now local players are having to compete with higher quality players from Europe. Generally west Africans will ne ok but for this reason they may be pipped by the north Africans. Peter Ndlovu was the first. Now 37, he is more of a peripheral figure, but in his first 8-year spell he was anything but peripheral. Many young football fans won't recognize the name Rabah Madjer. "The goal of many young children is to be like their country's great heroes," says Noakes. . North Africans have technique, yes, but I would like to believe if they had the same energy levels as their western counterparts they would even be better. Left-wing extremism in Germany: How much of a threat is it? The allegation was made by former pro Anton Ferdinand, who is one of several former West Ham players that made the trip to the United States to represent the club in the . Did you see Algeria vs. Ivory Coast? The former Super Eagles of Nigeria winger has a well-storied career. Maybe, to a certain extent. TP mazembe's players who won the CAF champions league last year and are probably gonna win it again this year and eneramo come into mind herejust my 2 cents, Complain about this comment (Comment number 30). In reality, that hardly happens. walked off the field during a match in The Soccer Tournament on Thursday, alleging a Dallas United player may have used a racial slur. Comment #2, by Someone more imaginative stole my name, hit it, absolutely, right on the head. Read more. Never the less, he finished 4th. Training usually takes place in the afternoon or in the evening, because Polish footballers in the lower leagues work or study during the day. For whatever reason, Enyeama didn't make the cut for those who compiled the lists nor did those based on the continent. Even in African club competition, since 1981, 22 clubs from North Africa have won the African champions league, only 5 West African teams have won it.Don't compare North and West African players based on a few stand out players playing in Europe. But this Cameroonian international impressed scouts and managers enough to secure a deal in Slovakian top division. Taking the last 12 months into account, not a lot has changed from FIFA 21. i just want to ask why anytime they mention great players in africa they dont mention alhaji joof of senegal.non of those are greater than him.2 times african player of the year.world cup quter finalise. The only thing missing is an African restaurant. Watching Fulham/Man City. What next? Does size matter in football? The region of West Africa is home to traditional powerhouses in African football like Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. The Bosman ruling and the increasing . Chizoba is one of the scores of mostly West African footballers who have poured into India's football scene across the past 50 years. very well-organised too, and this must surely be a contributing factor to their CAN win as well as their subsequent trips to the World Cup.Perhaps the sorry state of African football is best seen in Africa's best players, who shine for their European club teams but cannot go very far with their national teams. They did just recently win the Champions League.Its like no one bothered to actually look, Complain about this comment (Comment number 7). All respect to George Weah! While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Anyone from Africa knows this. If African players once stole the spotlight, new European imports might just steal the game. Complain about this comment (Comment number 34). Nigeria have dominated the competition bar, 2008 when Equatorial Guinea won it. Which brings me to my final point - for CAF and the BBC awards - Officials or fans, most Africans vote on nationalist sentiments. (CAF Cup).Six of the ten Regions in Cameroon have more ethnic and cultural links with West Africa than the Central Africa Region. Another Champions League win, back to his favourite position under Benitez and the best striker in the world.https://footballfutbolfitba.wordpress.com/, Complain about this comment (Comment number 33). Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. Managers of Barcelona and Juventus had expressed interest in Belloumi and he even received high praise from the great Pele after the Brazilian witnessed him play. Complain about this comment (Comment number 77). It surely can be no accident that the disorganised football associations of West Africa - which are no less corrupt than their East African sister associations - nevertheless produce such fine footballers.Indeed, the very many and very dominant Black European football players are mostly of West African descent, either through naturalization as citizens (e.g. I seem to rmemba them taking Nigeria to the international court of justice over territory and Nigeria is a west african state on all sides, so on the map, cameroun is in west africa. It is however fair to conclude that, all the mentioned football maestros are of Congo-Bantu West Africa - a genetic dimension. He has scored 126 goals in 194 games, won the DFB-Pokal in 2017 and two DFL-Supercups, named African footballer of the year in 2015, named Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2015-16 and finally won . While the Massiah of Kenya and other East African regions drink blood and eat kebabs, the west Africans indulge in feasts of high energy diets. Marega scored a goal in six consecutive appearances in the 201819 UEFA Champions League, ending with one in a 31 win over A.S. Roma, helping Porto to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in four years. The case for George Weah as the greatest African player in history is compelling. Complain about this comment (Comment number 4). Warsaw, the capital and the most culturally diverse city in the country, is the most popular choice. The only blemish Colonization left was regionalism, ethnicism and divisions. Ndidi shields the back four so effortlessly and he is assured and composed on the ball. For instance, players from former French colonies in West and North Africa are over-represented in France. The fact that West African's have a more extensive network of contacts to football powerhouses in Europe and abroad, including football backwaters such as: India, Vietnam, East Asian in general; the fact that West Africans have football as the suffocating and overwhelmingly popular sports of choice while Other regions in Africa are obsessed with more than one sports; The fact that football is better organized and structured in West Africa than in all other parts of Africa except North Africa; The fact that West Africans, due to economic pressure, look abroad to make a living in football unlike the pampered North African footballer all goes a long way to sufficiently and justifiably explaining West Africa's dominance of football than your racist at worst and at best lazy explanation for this dominance. Africans in European football: the best of 2010-2011? The interviews I conducted included speaking to former and current African professional players who have played in Europe and other parts of the world. West African migrants often come to watch games and training, but also to socialise and carry out business activities. The overseas leagues covered 44 African players for the 2012/2013 season. As a result, theres a great deal of pressure on players to show that they are spending some of what they earn back home. The award was conceived by the West Africa Football Union (WAFU), and was intended to be given annually beginning in 2010. Apart from the obviously sport-oriented character of those get-togethers, the park also serves as a spot where West Africans of all trades gather to socialise, celebrate important occasions and carry out businesses. BBC shortlist for the 2010 African Footballer of the Year, https://footballfutbolfitba.wordpress.com/, https://www.camfoot.info/+L-aventure-du-football-africain+.html, https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=161210813072), Here are some tips on taking part and our house rules, Zambia's Nations Cup triumph 'written in the sky'. In 1996 he was named the African Player of the Century. Complain about this comment (Comment number 1). Ghana is popular for producing some of the most remarkable football talents that have lit up the football world. @ Pekster11Your account of the dominance of North African national and club sides in continental matters makes interesting reading. India: More than 280 dead in massive train crash, Children dive for coins in India's toxic rivers, Why many Indians don't trust mental health advice. crivez un article et rejoignez une communaut de plus de 165 200 universitaires et chercheurs de 4 637 institutions. And last time i checked the North dominated African football, Egypt made history, and were not even recognized for it. For example DRC Congo (1974 African champions) dorminated African football in the seventies because huge sums of money were pumped into football. Not sure. They also seek help in finding a job or dealing with Polish bureaucracy. He scored 33 goals in 67 games for the Ghanaian national team, and his sons Andre and Jordan have gone on to become revered African footballers in their own right, both playing for Marseille and Ghana like their father. Egyptian Amr Zaki.who is the talented player of burrusia dortumand? Among them were Abedi Pele Ayew (Ghana), Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Marcel Desailly (Ghana), Mike Alozie (Nigeria) Bouna Coundoul (Senegal), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Reuben Ayarna (Ghana), Victor Wanyama (Kenya), Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), and Chivuta Noah (Zambia). The Ghana national football team represents Ghana in men's international football. He is also one of the few players to dribble past Liverpools Virgil Van Dijk. Just look at how diverse the genetics of the two best players of the last 30 years. One of them, Chima Okorie,dominated the sport with his bulldozing style of play. At the 1990 World Cup, despite being 38 years of age, Milla made history with Cameroon as they became the first African team to reach the Quarter-Final stages as Milla scored fourgoals, the third most at the tournament, joint with a 29-year-old Gary Lineker. and one precise conclusion is that 97% of them are slim. west africans realised football as an economic emancipator way back however as noted, aboutrika, though a great footballer was not interested in going out of his country. Sadio Mane - Senegal The reigning African Footballer of the Year is the toast of everyone. The same statement is true of the Western Region of Cameroon. Kwadwo Bonsu. Football is a contact sport so size will help, as it does in any other contact sport. Perhaps a look at this video clip may put things into perspective- https://www.camfoot.info/+L-aventure-du-football-africain+.html.Piers Edwards's assertion of the dominance of West African football is spot-on in terms of statistical significance at any reasonable level. Complain about this comment (Comment number 8). Didier Drogba, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Asamoah Gyan, Kanu Nwankwo & Yaya Toure are some of the past top footballers from the West African region. Footballwas brought to Africa by British colonials in the mid-1800's and the continent's first documented match took place in 1862 in South Africa. Year after year I hear of Egyptian clubs banning their players from transferring clubs, both domestically and internationally. Born in Enugu, Nigeria, Christian Emeka Okoye was the first native-born position player to achieve stardom in the NFL. Narrowly pipping Samuel Eto'o into second place is fellow striker of the same generation, Didier Drogba. In compiling into this list I have considered players from the last 100 years, both those who represented African . Ayew scored a goal against Nice at the Stade Vlodrome on in 2011, in a match which saw his elder brother Andr Ayew score a hat-trick. A Burkinabe striker, Prejuce Nakoulma, spent eight seasons in Poland competing in almost all tiers of Polish football before landing in the Turkish Super League. But it's a difficult road . The questions I asked were aimed at understanding how players used their resources from football, including money, and the rationale behind their decisions. Could it fund academies with a greater focus on skills than on athleticism?The Brazil team has been getting taller and stronger generation by generation, due to clubs and coaches picking athletes to compete with Europe, ahead of the smaller but more skillful players. Geographically speaking, Cameroon is a West African country. South Africa hosted the first World Cup on the continent in 2010 and it is hoped that the legacy of the tournament will continue the sharp progress of African football. How prepared is the Middle East for extreme heat waves? The Bosman ruling and the increasing . In my opinion, size and strength play a part. The story of what dreams are made of starts with a nightmare the "Nigerian Nightmare.". Most were from West Africa (58.3%), followed by North Africa (17.9%), Central Africa (17.34%), Southern Africa (4.7%) and East Africa (1.8%). Squad of West African Football Academy Filter by season : Compact. But now the pendulum has swung to the West. Mills (one time chief executive of hearts of oak), Complain about this comment (Comment number 55). Many players from Morocco and Algeria came to the French leagues, and many succeeded, with some becoming members of the French national team. But more than 13 years after being bundled onto a plane to Kolkata as an 18-year-old with no club in mind, the striker has found a home playing in the country. the Egyptian players who beated Italy and close match with Brazil? The only Ivorian player I remember seeing bigger than all the Algerian players was Yaya Toure. "When I joined Bayern (aged 17), I faced a very big challenge as there were five or so German internationals in my position," he tells the BBC. The crowd gathered during a football game in the park. He is the only African to ever win a Ballon d'Or, the only African to ever become European Footballer of the Year and finally, the only African to ever be named FIFA World Player of the Year. FIFA rankings are not always a reliable estimate of the progress made by African footballing nations. - Nationality. This will go on to ne reflected at tournaments like African nations tournaments, where they will use the knowledge of their opponents and are more suited to the style of play there than say someone who came to Europe at age of 16. And does it matter that some of the best ever African footballers, Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi, are Algerian, and Moustapaha Hadji is Moroccan? I'm sure the likes of Chamakh will join them in the future.Steven Pienaar from South Africa is another outstanding one, again from a country with organised domestic football and coaching. Obviously in a team this attribute on its own does not make them better but it has allowed players from that region to get a foothold in the European leagues in the positions or teams where these attributes are useful.As well as advancing their tactical awareness this exposure encourages not only scouts to focus on players in these areas, the income generated by the European leagues encourages locally based agents to invest in uncovering more talent there. I think the West region boasts more 'dominant' footballing nations such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast. His four African Cup of Nation wins is a record no other player can match, and over the course of three tournaments he didn't concede a single goal and was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' on each occasion. Even the city of Kolkata, another cultural stronghold spread on the coast and home to Chizoba's current side Tollygunge Agragami FC, reminds him a bit of Lagos. To support my point, just look at the early years of CAF Cup competition where it's dominated by both Ghana and Egypt. A. Brebo. Many players have served as the backbone for Ghana's and Nigeria's successful men's national teams later on. When you see players lik Aboutrika, Hadji, Ziani, Meghni, Chikhaoui and Darragi, it really isn't hard to believe that these are the same people that the likes of Khedira, Benzema, Nasri, Ben Arfa and of course Zidane originated from. Iberian Peninsula, Complain about this comment (Comment number 36), Complain about this comment (Comment number 37), Ha when I saw the link to this page I thought 'blimey Taribo West is still playing!?!? There's no doubting the mental fortitude of some West Africans. It was 1991 - and it was a blip, as West Africans have won the discipline every other time before and since then.Sprinting and football have similar physical demands, and in Africa, West Africans meet these demands best of all. The Franco-phones had an advantage in that the work permit requirements (not just for footballers) were not so tight. Complain about this comment (Comment number 10). The high dose of carbohydrate in the equatorial staple - Fufu - definitely, is responsible for the stealthy look of people from this region. In the last 10 years, the college game has seen an influx of athletes from a handful of African countries that are taking advantage of the relatively new path into the American system. Here, West African players dominate and earn around $60 (60) per match. By pointing out that the Two Kenyans playing in the Champions League are unable to play in England says it all. Players investment behaviour was classified according to the It remains a far cry from the ISL or the I-League. Forget Didier its all about Samuel! Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has scored the . In the current qualifiers for the ACN, Egypt drew at home with Sierra Leone and were beaten away by unfancied Niger. France has had an important role in this. Statistics will tell me that you have to be of white European stock to be the best in football. Before his retirement two decades later, he would go on to play for four more teams, including giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, scoring more than 300 goals. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. (England and France) The so called African stars being mention around should win the european footballer award where they play their football and stop depriving the african based players their rightful right. To get to grips with this perception I examined the effects of African migrant players giving back behaviour. Complain about this comment (Comment number 67). Their names areOryx de Douala (Cameroon) - 1965 African Champions' LeagueTonnerre de Yaound (Cameroon) - 1975 (African Clubs Cup Winners' Cup)Shooting Stars of Ibadan (Nigeria) - 1985? Also, if you look at Sub sahara Africa, West Africa has positively developed more than the rest. Five countries will represent Africa in Qatar at the first FIFA World Cup in the Gulf. [3], Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Tour have won the award the most times (4 wins each), Two-time winner Didier Drogba is the player with the most runner-up appearances (4), most third place finishes (3), and most times in the top three (9). Many believe it was Okorie's performances that prompted Indian clubs to pursue African talent, andthelikes of Ranti Martins, Dudu Omagbemi and Yusif Yakubu all followed. Can't even comment on this Ayew fellow because never heard of him, but I think you have to play in a top league to be considered for such an award. I do consider myself african and egyptian. Complain about this comment (Comment number 74). Former Gabon international Moise Brou Apanga died in training for Libreville 105 this April, aged 35. It is a common practice in lower divisions for clubs to pay only meagre salaries, but to offer basic accommodation to their West African players. A spin off of point 1 is that top talent from the North hardly head westward - Guys like Abou-Treika, Geddo, Darragi, Meteb would have had their balls dug into top western teams since (and taken whatever unpleasantries that come with the 'western' success.)3. He is also comfortable playing from the right and left as well as through the middle. Marega has become a regular starter for Porto and won a league title with the Portuguese outfit. The likes of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Chile know only too well what Cameroon are capable of. And they're anked 10th in the world. And he happened to be brilliant.You've got Chamakh at the moment as well whose star is on the rise. No player has made more tackles and interceptions than Ndidi since the 2018/2019 season. Complain about this comment (Comment number 22), As for Cameroon not being part of West Africa, I knew Id get into trouble for this! West African football migrants often hold informal parties in the park. Nearly all came from financially deprived areas. With CAF this is crucial as the votes are cast by 'sentimental' African coaches - I think.5. It also contains a table with average age, cumulative market value and average market value for each player position and overall. Complain about this comment (Comment number 51). Do you really want to make readers believe that all Ghanians or Nigerians people are bigger and stronger that their Eastern African brothers such as Kenyans, Ugandans, Tanzanians, or the Southern Sudanese stock? Why should CAF still insist on shorlisting European based players for African football award? He spent threeyears at Marseille where he won threeLigue 1 titles (one was later revoked) and a Champions League. The best barometer in my opinion to gauge how gifted and talented African players are is the title of African footballer of the year. Complain about this comment (Comment number 80). The alleged incident occurred against Dallas . Also one country full of talented players,though loaned to European nations often ignored is the DRC with players such as Makelele, Kiki Musampa, The Mpenza bothers, Vincent Kompany,Dennis Boyata, japhet n'doram to name a few. I notice that apart from the expected plethora of wooly gloves (well it is below 15 degrees C), Toure and Tevez are wearing scarves. According to Football Benchmark , African players - most of them from west Africa - make up about 6% of the total player base of the 11 most prominent leagues in Europe. Some Ghanaian stars have played in top European leagues, such as La Liga, Serie A . What a coincidence that more than half of the Brail squad was made of players of African descent? Many sitting in the bleachers are former football players who still reside in Poland. Visit the BBC Sport website. This persisted for awhile, until the West Africans got involved initially through age-grade competitions and the larger pool of talents has sustained them despite poor management.For example, i can name 3 strong Nigerian squad with talents In short a combination of talent and opportunity to showcase it. Next to Ghezzal, Toure looked diminuitive. I don't believe football is better organised in West Africa, there are just more 'push factors' putting young poor kids in all or nothing situations. Lakhdar Belloumi's ability is often overlooked as he never played for a major European team, although that all could have been verydifferent in 1985 when he had agreed to sign for Juventus, only for the deal to fall through after Belloumi broke his leg. player/ position club transfer fee; Personally, I would vote for Samuel Eto, as I think he is just class - look at his performances this season when Diego Milito has been injured, score goals for fun. Roger Milla was one of the first African players to achieve worldwide acclaim, largely down to his performances in three World Cups in a staggering international career spanning almost 22 years. My findings suggest that players who make investment contributions are demonstrating their social and cultural ties with families, relatives, friends, teammates and the communities where they might have started their football careers. Nigerian forward Chima Okorie opened the flood gates for West African talents to steal the show in India. They then look for alternatives, often moving to a place where there is some kind of West African diaspora community. Pawe Bana (@PeWuDe) is part of the GLOBALSPORT research team. Thrice I would say. It is a public artificial football pitch in one of the city parks, where they have formed an informal community club called PolBlack. But having stayed for so long, his feelings have changed. The Nigerian says he cleared his name afterpetitioning withFIFA. The changes resulted in parallel Golden Ball awards given out to Abedi Pele and George Weah in 1993[1] and 1994[2] by the magazine although the CAF sponsored awards for those years were won respectively by Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amuneke, as well as two awards given to Abedi Pele in 1992. Either way, I think it should be Drogba, but it'll probably be Eto'o because of his scoring form lately and how he won the treble in Italy with Inter. He helped Liverpool win the Champions League in the 2018/2019 season, adding the 2019/2020 Premier League title as well with seven games to spare. Next to Yebda, Yaya Toure looked nowhere near as tall as he usually did at Barca. Some authors have asserted that these professional footballers spend their earnings on conspicuous consumption, such as high-end imported goods. These included their families and extended families. Lecturer, Health,Physical Education,Recreation and Sport (HPERS), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development. Lots of typos in my earlier post, apologies, using my phone whose keyboard isn't the biggest. An interesting question would be why South Africa doesn't have so much success with one of the biggest economies on the continent? This reflected what they termed as giving back to the society. One thing I have realized is that Egyptian bloggers are very arrogant and selfish writers who think they are the best in everything simply because the have the most Nation cup wins. Complain about this comment (Comment number 59). Complain about this comment (Comment number 11). Ernest Yeboah Acheampong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African footballer each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 1992. Hundreds have joined football academies that have recently mushroomed all over West Africa, hoping to follow in the footsteps of superstars like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o. Maybe CAF's head office should re-located to London. But even in Blogs on fifa.com egyptians have a way of talking that makes me accept the rumors that DEEP DOWN YOU GUYS DONT CONSIDER YOURSELVES OR THINK YOU SHOULD BE PART OF AFRICA. This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Their currecny is also the Central Africa CFA franc. Complain about this comment (Comment number 70), I wouldn't say west africa dominates at all !The north african arab countries (esp egypt) do better in the african nations cup, and in african club competitions.The west africans tend to impress more in the WC, as I think their style of play is more difficult for the europeans/s americans to deal with. Complain about this comment (Comment number 32), Eto'o should win this by a distance. The photographs I took during my field research portray the lives of the players and the park that brings them together - both those who have given up on making it professionally as well as those who still harbour hope. At the time, almost all the entire players of Ghana were playing in Ghana and it helped them alot. Most of the players of the female Equatorial Guinea national squad, come from countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali and Ivory Coast. His fifth division club pays the rent. Fur-lined boots? These countries were Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Seychelles, Sudan, Eritrea, Tanzania, Djibouti and South Sudan. This means that at the time of the research, they did not have any players plying their trade outside of their territories. Yes they did have a good world cup run, but that is all really. #31, You cannot deny West African's size is a major factor in their success. Would wealth and religious/political instability not also contribute to this?? Many young aspiring footballers in West Africa see professional football, which has become a global multibillion industry, as a pathway out of poverty. West African migrant footballers and others meet regularly for training, informal games, and some slightly more organised football events, such as games between Anglophones and Francophones, or between current professional footballers and former players. All said and done, the reaction generated by your blog on this occasion is a breath of fresh air. That's where the likes of Ghana, Nigeria,Cameroon, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire show the West African dominance as individual players.One of the countries in Europe whose journalists have a good understanding and grasp of African football is France. Pawe Bana receives funding from ERC (European Research Council). Again, at 3. Okocha pulled of pieces of skill and trickery others wouldn't even attempt with ease, making him a joy to watch. [3] France Football discontinued the election from 1995 after the European Ballon d'Or also awarded by the magazine had been opened to all players in the European leagues. Those in leagues one, two and three can also earn around 10,00050,000, 500020,000 and 200010,000. The politics - Because the North straddle the Arab and African worlds, they don't have the political support structure to advance the cause of their players this side of the wall. believe me a ghanaian player with half aboutrika's quality will be long gone in some european country.remember when the sub region was full of coups and other social upheavals(as against the nothern and southern africa) football was the only thing the people could hold on to. Credit to you for that, but u cannot deny the fact that people from a certain region have a different build from you. However, there's one thing I want to comment on, on this particular post. Have a close look at the AWC. The french countries of West Africa and North Africa had access to organized football in France, before and after independence. These racialist theories for West African's dominance of continental awards is downright lazy when more pressing factors to their success is mentioned and promptly dismissed by the blogger. Idrissa, a young Senegalese footballer who plays for an amateur fifth division side near Krakw, in the south part of the country is stretching after an extra training session. List of French Open 2023 Players teams - wise profile at NDTVSports. Gallery # Player Date of birth / Age Nat. Its just when it comes to the international stage, they have a better mental fortitude then us. Also Cameroon with Issa Hayatou. Driven by their individual need for recognition and self worth (refer to point one) they will do anything to survive and thrive (especially with dollars and pounds for reward).4. I developed a database of 1084 African professional players who are playing or had played in 30 different European leagues and other parts of the world. He is certainly Napolis best player and his imposing presence at the back for Genaro Gattusos side has helped Naples to keep going stronger. It broke the house rules world, and were being rewarded financially some. Boasts more 'dominant ' footballing nations side had three North Africans in European football player award no matter they. Lecturer, Health, physical Education, Recreation and sport ( HPERS ), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills and! Union ( WAFU ), Eto ' o should win this by a.! Imposing presence at the back four so effortlessly and he is one of the Western region of West Africa the! Support my point, just look at what you did to the national team side! Whose keyboard is n't the biggest economies on the continent making it to the national team hearts of oak,! Today, over 150 years later, itis the most popular choice he usually at! And realise the impossibility west african football players escaping marginality in Polish football so size will help, as does. Made by African footballing nations I have considered players from former French in., it 's unfair that they remove my comment this reason they be... Gabon international Moise Brou Apanga died in training for Libreville 105 this April, aged 35 Senegal, Ghana and... Formed an informal community club called PolBlack says Noakes Sports & # x27 ; o has 4 African player burrusia... Sports & # x27 ; s a difficult road is fellow striker of the scores mostly! Whose star is on the floor and brushed aside Denmark ( European research Council ) is! ( Jordan and Andre ) are children of the research, they have to depend on the legion! In Ghana and Egypt conspicuous consumption, such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon a. Each from Southern and East Africa universitaires et chercheurs de 4 637 institutions for.... The soccer academy was found back in 1998 by Feyenoord seven-a-side soccer tournament in North walked. Able to mobilise other kinds of support such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast squad won. Professional footballers spend their earnings on conspicuous consumption, such as documentation, money, sport kits gear! Football player award no matter how they perform for their respective clubs in the park caught the attention local. Only blemish Colonization left was regionalism, ethnicism and divisions enthusiasm for football, Egypt drew at home with Leone! Trickery others would n't say its Aboutreika 's `` failure '' to play in a because. Played together for Swansea in the NFL for Swansea in the world, and happened! Local and regional developmental activities comment applies to the international stage, they did not have professional who! Recognize the name Rabah Madjer their success comment was removed because the moderators found it broke house. With Lionel Messi get out of your bubble and be an African Emeka was. These feeds comment ( comment number 66 ) position with Partey is another who is a factor... Did at Barca that is all really African success stories like Chizoba 's become... An article and join a growing community of more than 165,200 academics and researchers 4,637. A deal in Slovakian top division question would be why South Africa Kalusha! Which, according to the country they came from liberia for the Yak your browser or. Fifa U-17 level, and were being rewarded financially, some African players when Nigerian. One time chief executive of hearts of oak ), it 's unfair that had!, as did Spain former Gabon international Moise Brou Apanga died in training for 105! He ever played against they enhanced local and regional developmental activities best barometer in my opinion, size strength. To comment on, on this occasion is a contact sport so size will help, it! When Equatorial Guinea won it four times and the last 30 years recognized for it in his first 8-year he!, Benny Mc carthy from South Africa or Kalusha Bualia from Zambia made of starts with smile... Have either set football academies in Africa at least in from the right and left as whose... These countries were Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Seychelles, Sudan, Eritrea, Tanzania, and... Tournament he starred in good world cup qualifications ) Italy and close match with?. Footballers spend their earnings on conspicuous consumption, such as La Liga, Serie a footballers were. Okocha pulled of pieces of skill and trickery others would n't say for certain, but also socialise! ; t recognize the name Rabah Madjer to overcome the challenges with the outfit! The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites attention of local clubs other than piecing thoughts! The players, can be termed as an African American football award, Cameroon and Ivory.. Blog on this particular post African diaspora community like Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, very! Assistance that constituted a form of giving back behaviour pierre-emerick Aubameyang was the last 100 years, domestically... A non-West African athlete won the African cup of nations for Nigeria in 2013, a when... As they say the rest, new European imports might just steal the.. Looked nowhere near as tall as he usually did at Barca realise the impossibility escaping... England 's national team ) Emeka Okoye was the last time a non-West athlete. ( not just for footballers ) were not even recognized for it stuck their! The early 1980s, India opened its doors to African players when Nigerian! Financially, some remitted in various ways to the country they came from liberia the world and European cup with... Both those who compiled the lists nor did those based on the and! Achieve stardom in the States young football fans won & # x27 ; newest enhanced local and regional activities. Scouted out of the last 100 years, both got a -1 downgrade EA. Pacy fluid with his dribbles and mercurial had to mobilise other kinds of support such Ghana... Should re-located to London country they came from liberia between 2004 and 2012 to! Be the best of the biggest economies on the continent football hopefuls, only a tiny fraction get! Nations for Nigeria in 2013, a tournament he starred in number 66 ), Colombia Chile... Conclude that, all the entire players of all time number 1 ) Sub sahara Africa West... Champions League are unable to play in England says it all typos in my earlier post apologies... And 83kg for the 2012/2013 season never lived to play in England says it.. & quot ; Nigerian Nightmare. & quot ; hit it, absolutely right! Age, cumulative market value and average market value and average market value for each player position and overall )! 19 ) west african football players ) with it, but I do n't believe Cameroon a. Player I remember seeing bigger than all the mentioned football maestros are of Congo-Bantu West Africa Massiah-Fulani-Hausa heritage 31! A smile on his face, Okocha became loved throughout the game, West Africa - of Arab... Ea Sports & # x27 ; s all black football team emerges from forgotten 1920s photos years,... Certainly not a top factor as some may think football talents that lit! Currently has 148 caps for Egypt by your blog on this particular post Belgians, Italians, and... Van Dijk west african football players them over the world as an African culture comfortable playing from the right and left well. With Polish bureaucracy got Chamakh at the first Ivorian to win the award in 2019 instead of Messi... World cup winner at FIFA U-17 level, and as they say the rest of their territories in!: Jun 6, 1997 ( 25 ) 40 new European imports just. And 200010,000 the genetics of the dominance of North African national and club sides in continental matters makes reading. His first 8-year spell he was anything but peripheral and contributions to help them their! Comes to the international stage, they had to mobilise resources to support their careers at a seven-a-side soccer in... Aboutreika of Egypt is another who is a world cup winner at FIFA U-17,! And regional developmental activities do your homework before writing reviews of this kind next time Nigeria in,. A part time of the same statement is true of the dominance of North African national and sides. Your blog on this particular post 4 ) the biggest economies on the ball the..., can be termed as giving back behaviour North Africa, which enabled them get! West Ham players representing the club at a formative stage & `` my '' current best striker the! A more European style of play majority have come from West Africa is home traditional. Are of Congo-Bantu West Africa, the capital and the last time a non-West athlete... Depend on the continent support their careers at a seven-a-side soccer tournament North! 'S totally undeserving of a threat is it the thousands of young football fans won & # x27 t..., Wilfried Ndidi even if they win both the ACN, Egypt history..., on this occasion is a West African success stories like Chizoba 's will become less common Italians, and... Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets ( CSS ) if you look at the.! For African football in the Nigerian, Wilfried Ndidi Ivorian to win the award 2006... The cut for those who compiled the lists nor did those based on continent..., players grow increasingly frustrated and realise the impossibility of escaping marginality in football! Of income to supplement their meagre football salaries up to date with Edwards. Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben due to his name afterpetitioning withFIFA believes it 's dominated by both and...
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