African All-Stars: Our best XI across Europe in 2022/23
A number of stars from the African continent have shone on the BIGGEST European stages this season so we’ve put together a star-studded XI. Who’s in and who’s out?
Goalkeeper
André Onana
was an easy choice between the sticks after Inter’s stopper emerged from their recent Champions League final defeat with great credit. The Cameroonian is known for his BIG personality, bravery and technical ability on the ball, which is no real surprise with the education he received at Ajax.
Defenders
Morocco superstar
Achraf Hakimi
is still just 24 but already has stints with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter and now PSG on his impressive CV. 5 goals and 3 assists in Ligue 1 is a decent return but he’ll want more next season as the Parisians try to go all the way in the Champions League.
Ex-Porto and Newcastle defender
Chancel Mbemba
helped Marseille to 3rd spot in Ligue 1 so they’ll hope to get into the Champions League via the qualifiers. The Congolese centre-back should be a key figure for the French giants again next time around. Alongside him, we’ve gone for the ultra-talented Bayer Leverkusen man
Edmond Tapsoba
. The 24-year-old Burkinabé star is a giant, but also super smooth in possession with a cultured left foot.
Ramy Bensebaïni
has been a dangerous outlet from full-back for both Algeria and Borussia Monchengladbach and he grabbed 6 Bundesliga goals this term, a healthy return for any left-back. He can also operate in the centre of defence, and that adaptability has earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund for next season. Amazingly, he has won 4 of his 6 career meetings with Bayern Munich and scored 4 goals against them, so Dortmund might see him as their new lucky charm as they aim to mount another title charge.
Holding midfielders
In a glorious run to the Serie A title, Cameroon’s
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa
was a dynamic presence in the heart of midfield, starting 36 of Napoli’s league matches. There are not many players around Europe who improved as much this season as the ex-Fulham, Marseille and Villarreal schemer.
Alongside him,
Sofyan Amrabat
gets the nod after another stellar season for Fiorentina. The Viola endured heartbreak in both the Coppa Italia and Europa Conference League finals, but making it all the way there is an achievement in itself. Amrabat, who shone like a beacon at WC22 for Morocco’s Atlas Lions, is a pivotal piece of the puzzle for his club.
Attacking midfielders
Ajax’s supremely versatile
Mohammed Kudus
is unlikely to be an Eredivisie player next season, such is the growing interest in the Ghanaian’s signature. He excels in a number of roles, showing a devastating burst of pace when carrying the ball up the pitch. A goalscoring midfielder is one of the most valuable commodities in world football. He got 11 in the Eredivisie to go with 4 in the Champions League group stage and 2 for Ghana at WC22. What a campaign for the 22-year-old.
Riyad Mahrez
wasn’t always a starter for treble winners Man City this season, but he still produced when it mattered in the final third, and he added 3 trophies to his impressive growing collection and another 15 direct goal contributions in the Premier League. Surely one of the finest African players in EPL history, Mahrez continues to deliver the goods year after year, and he’s not done yet.
Speaking of great African stars in England,
Mohamed Salah
bagged 19 goals and 12 assists in the league this season, meaning he’s got double figures for both goals and assists in 4 of his 6 Premier League campaigns with Liverpool. What a player.
Striker
Like Onana in goal,
Victor Osimhen
was an obvious candidate to play a leading role in this All-Star XI. The Super Eagles forward bagged a remarkable 26 goals in 32 Napoli league appearances, comfortably landing him the Capocannoniere award as Serie A’s top scorer. The Azzurri will be desperate to keep hold of their star man but they’ll also be resigned to receiving BIG-money offers from some of Europe’s leading lights for the prolific 24-year-old.
Whatever happens, the ex-Lille man will go down in Napoli folklore as the man who spearheaded their first Scudetto win in 33 years.
African All-Star XI in Europe for 2022/23
(4-2-3-1): André Onana; Achraf Hakimi, Chancel Mbemba, Edmond Tapsoba, Ramy Bensebaïni; André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Sofyan Amrabat; Mohamed Salah, Mohammed Kudus, Riyad Mahrez; Victor Osimhen