Africans in European football: the best of 2010-2011?

The first name I looked for in this team was Cheik Tiote, and he didn't even make the bench. So dissapointed.

Kwadwo Asamoah from Undinese has been excellent this season and I am suprised to see him left out of the first XI

Pretty attacking subs bench. Do you not think you will need defenders or a keeper?

another african midfielder who should have at least made the bench in this team is
YOUSSOUF MULUMBU of West Brom.

honestly, the most hardworking and energetic midfielder i've seen at the club (in my 23 years). chipped in with goals as well in his first season in the premier league. He also has one of the highest tackle and interception rates in the league!

Surprised the gooners aren't after him as well as Odemwingie!

he comes from Africa, he's better than KAKA...Mulumbu woOOOOoooow!

You forgot Odemwinge (forgive the spelling),

Good article, although disappointing that tiote of Newcastle didn't even get a mention, he's been superb all season, forget Andy Carroll, it was tiote who made the team play well, when he was out, they played utter rubbish but with him they thrashed villa, Sunderland, Liverpool and took 4 points from arsenal

#5 - Odewingie is on the Bench as "Osaze Odemwingie"

Why no Drogba, on his day he is still unplayable.

No mention of Essien, Drogba, Mikel or Kalou? Shows how disappointing a season Chelsea have had.

Odemwingie has had a fantastic season though, should have been in the starting 11 and Chris Samba as well.

How has Alex Song not featured in this? Is this some kind of sick joke? Haha. To see a proper alternative team of the year, check out; https://markbritton7.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/premier-league-round-up-alternative-best-xi/ no top 4 sides, and no bottom 3!

@4&5

WBA need to sell Odemwingie quick style! They will command upto £10m for the guy and he will never in a million years replicate the goals return he has got this year.

Mulumbu is a guy I had my eye on when he was in the championship, he plays his role really well and will become a top player, maybe he'll deserve a place in this team next year.

I'd have to question why Demba Ba makes no appearance, he has been brilliant throughout 10/11. I've also like Kan-Biyik of Rennes, he has potential

#8 How is Charlie Adam not in the btoom 3?

#11 Sorry, I meant #9.

What about demba ba and sow, african and south american players are really starting to make a name for themselves in europe after the world cup and they do bring excitement pace and strength to the european game. I don't understand why premier league clubs don't have academies and links to africa and south america because they could save themselves alot of money and bring through the next superstar which would make them a great profit. There are so many players in africa and south america that may be a little rough around the edges but with the right training they could be developed and turned into world beaters top clubs just need to know where to look.

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How is Moussa Sow not in your starting line-up!!

Great team - wouldn't even beat spurs !!!

Point of correction. This was NOT Andre Ayew's first taste of Champions League football. He played 3 matches for Marseille in the competition in the 2007/08 season.

@13: "I don't understand why premier league clubs don't have academies and links to africa and south america"

How do you know that they dont? Manchester United utilised a link with Fluminense to snaffle Fabio and Rafael...

Note the rules that, for example, Brazilian players are not allowed to leave the country before they reach 18 (although they can sign for clubs before then)

I really think this compilation is a result of lazy journalism and wonder how it made it into BBC website. The write up is based on sentiments and lacking any vital data or technical analysis to back it up.
In these days of Opta, Infostrada and countless more resources, Readers deserve better articles.
A conspicuous sentimental selection is Assou Ekotto, who didn't win anything being chosen ahead of Taiwo whose goal won a cup for Marseille. And saying Taiwo might not have been bought by AC Milan if he wasn't on a free transfer is bordering on insulting for the defender, who was actively pursued at the end of last season by clubs from Spain and Italy.
I'm sure if the writer had done just a little bit of investigative journalism and make a mild attempt at hard-work, he will have those details in making his deductions.

I'm surprised goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama wasn't chosen, true he doesn't play in one of the top European leagues but he's had a fantastic season with Hapoel Tel Avi, and had a brilliant world cup. Seemed to be the only one that could stop Messi.

Pretty sure George Weah scored 20+ league goals for Milan on about 3 occasions.....

It's a minor point, but the names below the photos are not shown "clockwise", but simply in two rows, "From the left (top) (bottom)".

To be fair guys, this is just his opinion.

It may be way off the mark but hey.......everyone has an opinion, some just get paid well to voice theirs......some dont.....

Tiote.......a shoe in!

https://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2011/5/2/1304346724016/Kevin-Grosskreutz-007.jpg

Kevin Grosskreutz has the worst hair in football.. Fact.

Leaving out all of Chelsea's African stars and such fine players as Song, Taiwo and Adebayo illustrates the defficiency of this list.

It's clear you have an axe to grind with the Nigerians. How can anyone worth anything feel AC Milan couldn't have bought Taiye if he wasn't on a free. Even if they are broke, you don't expect Ac Milan to buy someone just because he's free if not for merit. They’ve been on him since 2 seasons ago. Michael Owen was free before signing anew, why didn't they buy him? Obviously you watch Benoit Assou-Ekotto more and that's why u feel the way you feel. Too bad. And for Odemwigie who obviously is playing in a more competitive league with less quality teammates, yet he could score 15 solid goals in a season. And yet you say Andre with 11goals in a less competitive league with more quality team-mates is better this season than him. Tell me, what was your yardstick? I'm sure you were in dreamland when you wrote this piece. If Odemwigie was an English, I'm sure you would rate him better than Socrates and Pele... You know what Piers? Nigeria is back again. Can't remember when England won a team in top-five ranking like we dealt with Argentina on Tuesday.. 4 goals to 1 is no joke. Germany beat some guys like that in the world cup in South Africa. Can you remind me who?

Where is Manucho. I think the african team can't be completed without him. I rue my club of not giving oppurtunity to him to prove his talents. But on any given he is heads and shoulders above Gervinho, Drogba , Etoo and the rest. Arguably the best African player ever. Even better trhan Zidane

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@1 Maybe because Tiote is the most ruthless (in the worst sense of the word) player in the league at present and despite his record number of yellow cards, he often gets spared by incompetent refereeing. Had he been that good a player, he wouldn't have skipped the opportunity to play in the Champions and wouldn't have joined a club that has just been promoted to the PL.

@ #26 I agree with most of your points but not all Englishman are as stupid as who the BBC employs.

'Africa's greatest ever footballer' ?!?

George Weah ?

Quite a lot of African players in Europe had a good season and understandably any coach will grow white hairs picking a first 11. I think that this list can reasonably pass except for the inclusion of Benoit at left back. And it does not have anything to do with the lame excuse for not including Taiwo in this list! Much has been made about Spurs' defensive frailties this season and you don't have to look further than Benoit and Gomez for half the goals conceeded by the team.

Where is Tioté?!

@26 Argentina fielded a very weakened team in a friendly game. Do your research before you jump on others

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Haha Essien, Mikel and Drogba have been terrible, so good thing
Theyre off the list.
Eto'o has been super as always, 37 goals. Credit to ayew and gervinho for improving theyre game.
Shame ekotto made the list , lets hope africa products better fullbacks, we'll see what taiwo does at milan.

Talking about Africa's greatest players, George Weah and Abedi Pele definitely come before Eto'o. Let's not even start with players of African descent or extraction

Kameni over Enyeama says it all. You know nothing about African players, only celebrities.

is there any particular reason adel taraabt is not in this team?? i know he can go missing in games sumtimes but he singlehandedly won qpr the league and promotion. is it just cos hes not in the prem league??

I am impressed with this selection and would recommend a match is scheduled in the near future to play European nation.

no bassong???
no but seriously, assou-ekotto is unbelievable - solid, skillful and consistent. Destroyed arsenal at the lane this season handling 2 players (including walcott) and played an absolute quality pass for the penalty that lennon one - great pick piers!!

@37 Although George Weah was undoubtedly a great player, Eto'o has now eclipsed him in my opinion. Eto'o has scored more goals at club level and all of Eto'o's goals have been scored in the stronger leagues of Italy and Spain whereas many of Weah's were scored in Africa and France.

Eto'o has four league titles in Italy and Spain, Weah only three in his time in France and Italy. Eto'o has three champions league winners medals, weah has none. Weah is a three time African footballer of the year, Eto'o has four in a time where there are arguably more talented African footbllers than ever before. Admittedly Eto'o has never been world footballer of the year but this is a merely snapshot of a twelve month period in a players career. Whilst I take nothing away from what Weah achieved, for sheer consistency at the very highest level Eto'o has to be considered the greatest African player of all time.

@ 34, why don't you do the research yourself. Player to player put side by side and judging from where each plays and quality of league, even the so-called weak Argentines have serious edges over the Nigerians. Yes! Meanwhile, nobody would say anything if they beat the Nigerians. It would just pass as normal. Does it also strike you that our best player, Odemwingie plays for West Brom? and wasn't even listed. The Argentine's worst player plays in much better club than that isn't it?

@26 say nothing bad about ekotto!!!

@21 - do you not know how to use the internet? I'm not debating Weah wasn't a fantastic player, but the most league goals he scored in a season for Milan was 13. It doesn't take long to find these things out before making moronic posts.

@43 I did do my research and Argentina's side was much weaker in my opinion. The Argentina goalscorer was Mauro Boselli, a player so talented he was loaned out this season by Wigan. It was a second string eleven beaten in a friendly. A good win? Yes. But hardly anything to make a song and dance about.

SAMUEL ETO'O:
Quite simply a legend.

If he was Brazilian, German or Dutch he would have been hailed as an all-time great. Yes, an ALL-TIME great. I would take him over any other striker (i.e. PURE no. 10) in history.

Taiwo over Assou-Ekotto; would drop Keita for Song, Tiote or Mikel. Enyeama is better than Kameni. What about Diawara and Samba? Great players!

And yes, Eto'o is a legend!

There's a certain maturity creeping in depth through African football. I just hope to see an African nation get to the final of the WC sometime soon.

Even a blind man could detect that not much research was put into this before the publications were made.

i think tiote from newcastle should be in it , think he has had a great season.

I am surprise no one is talking about Roger Miler of Cameroon as one of Africa's greatest players.

I believe Samba is a hell of a defender and it is a shame he did not make the list.

Tiote plays like Makelele in the midfield so is he not on the list? We all know that makelele is the best midfield player ever.

I am sure Drogba might have been affected by the unrest in his country so I am not surprise he does not make the starting lineup this time.

However, I must admit that the EPL is my favourite so I don't know the other players very well and hence people should not be pouncing on BBC for this because it is difficult to track the movement of everyone out there in the wilderness.

Lacina Traore? This kid looks great. He's only 21. I saw him when he played for Cluj. Now he plays for Kuban K in Russia.

@ 46, great work indeed! A look at history will show you how the best of the Argentines have often struggled with Nigeria. Never in their history have they beaten Nigeria so comprehensively. If Maradona in 1994 couldn't do it without drugs, certainly Messi couldn't have done it in 2010 without a dubious goal. So I put it to you that even if they came with their best, they will still be beaten. No excuse for the Argies, they had enough time to prepare for the friendly. Even if the guys who play in Barcelona can't come cos of the obvious, no reason whatsoever not to bring Di Maria, Tevez, Milito etc. Their coach simply looked at Nigeria based on recent form and came with the ones he thought could crack them, but they got the beating of their life. Nigeria went with an experimental side to a friendly in France (just before the world cup) and beat the likes of Evra, Malouda and co on their home soil. Nigeria is rising, Just watch out!

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Lazy journalism! Where's Peter Ndlovu, Youssef Chippo and Mustapha Hadji on this list? Granted they've been quiet of recent months but form is temporary - class is permanent.

What nonsense list is this that does not have Ibrahim Sekagya. The only African who to captain a Euro team.

Interesting complilation...but i think not too comprehensive as better player are out there no doubt

No Samba?? Come on Piers!!

Luckily for me i know the players above, because them photo's aren't shown "Clockwise"! Haha

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@ 52.At 02:49 4th Jun 2011, Tuckyjoe wrote:

Tiote plays like Makelele in the midfield so is he not on the list? We all know that makelele is the best midfield player ever.

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Late night mate?


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@ 54.At 06:11 4th Jun 2011, AdPlus wrote:

Nigeria is rising, Just watch out!

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Just keep Yakubu out the squad!

Eto is no doubt the best striker in the world of football and ill rate him ahead of Ronaldo of Brazil. Assuming he came from Europe or South America he would have been made a god by now. Odewinge deserved to be in the team coz he had a great season with relatively unknown WBA. Tiote had a good season as well. Mikel was fantastic for Chelsea not until his injury, Kameni is error prone and. Eyeanma is a far better goal kepper than him. Taye Taiwo is better than assou Ekotto and Its actually an insult to think he wouldn't have gone to Mil. You don't know jack about these players. Joseph Yobo had a wonderful season with Fernabache

No Mulumbu from West Brom?? Hmmm and Odemwingie on the bench over someone who scored 25 goals in the french ligue one!! Odemwingie made over 7 assists and was involved in many more goals. Mulumbu scored 7 league goals from defensive midfield. No justice towards the smaller teams

What about Adel Taarabt

Come on lads, Piers merely expressed his opinion and even though we might disagree with aspects of it, we should respect his selection nonetheless. Lets be respectful even when we disagree. This isn't a contest, it is a blog - an opinion, not fact.

Can't remember when England won a team in top-five ranking like we dealt with Argentina on Tuesday.. 4 goals to 1 is no joke.

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It is when you play the Argentine u18 ladies reserve team.

where is Adel Taarabt? yes he played in a championship team this season. But the guy has just turned 22, scored 19 goals, assisted by far the most in the championship and was top class all season, He was a true talisman and has a wonderful future ahead of him. Undoubtedly the most talented pro to wear the famour blue & white hoops since Les Ferdinand. Astounded hes not even on your bench, the boy will soon grace the bright lights of premier league and will probably move onto bigger and better things in a year or so, and I for one will not hold a grudge when he does, hes immortality talented and has that swagger and arrogrance that only the finest have. Shocking omission. Your selection skills are on a par with David Batty's penalty taking attempts.

How did you forget taarabt

Samuel Eto'o head and shoulders above the rest. Barcelona made the stupidest decision in trading him and they haven't gotten anyone better than him to replace him (David Villa and Ibrahimovic weren't nearly as prolific as he was).

Best African player ever is El Hadji Diouf ... FACT

#31...

The greatest African footballer ever? SAMUEL ETO'O...miles ahead of the rest! No one can even come close.

Adel Taarabt anyone?

Peter Odemwingie has been fantastic and would probably deserve a place in an African XI for how quickly he has adapted to the English game and put in a lot of match winning performances.

But as Piers has stated, it would be easier to field 5 strikers. That's just not sensible though so it all comes down to personal opinion. It's interesting that Africa's top players are strikers (with a couple of exceptions). As a continent they have some cracking attacking players let down by some fairly average goalkeepers and defenders.

I umaru write
nice selection but am odemwingie shuold have got a start

No Bougherra? I guess you don't follow the SPL

I really don't see the point of these sorts of articles. All they do is provide an opportunity for a quick, easy blog for a lazy journalist, while churning up some ridiculous comments from people who question the ommission of players who they rate on the basis of them playing for the club they support! The confusion between fact and opinion on this page is just rediculous!

im slightly disipointed that asamoah gyan was on the bench as he has been fantastic all season, but eto'o been great aswell

I would definitely give the best african player to Eto'o. Those of George Weah, Abedi Pele, Anthony Yeboah, etc were great players but not the best. Eto'o is simply the best of all these african players present and past...I know many tend to give their opinions instead of facts on what these players have achieved in their life time as players.....

@adplus
how can you brag about beating argentina? they left out all their best players, with a full team they would have destroyed nigeria, and germany would also do the same with the amount off talent they have.

Vincent Kompany is a great African defender. Sure his Mum is Belgian, but his Dad is from Congo. That makes him as much African as European. Kompany is an ace defender, who can also attack. And he is a natural born leader. He should have made your African team.

Where the hell is John 'Goals Goals Goals' Mensah(Success)? Did you not witness his record breaking season?

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@48 Enyeama is short will be easily beated at crosses, that is why he could not make it in EPL.

This is a really mediocre team (& so beautifully typically BBC as a choice of topic!). Can we now see the same for South America? A much more vibrant and interesting XI, one suspects..... Or, perhaps, better ever Spanish players to play in England...

Ha, "this may come as a surprise" - Benny at left-back. NOT to any Spurs supporter. He has come on in leaps and bounds this season and sadly seems to be overlooked by the media. He's a bit arrogant but pretty cool and this season some of the defending and passes have been sublime. I defend him to the hilt at the Lane. Too much focus has been on other players, so "go Benny".
As you say its your opinion. Gyan has been a delight this season. Tiote - No - far too dirty. Eto'o - nah.

Just about the only enjoyable thing of the 2010 World Cup was the performances of some of the African sides, notably Ghana. I've always enjoyed the flair that African teams bring to international football, going right back to Roger Milla and Cameroon, but now it seems there's an abundance of talent to go with it.

No doubt that's due to no small extent to improved scouting networks and big clubs like Barcelona signing up kids from the African content before they've even hit their teens, not a practice I generally endorse but if it gives thousands if not millions of youngsters (many of whom are terribly deprived) a dream then it's fair to make an exception.

Makes you wonder though, doesn't it, how a country such as England with its massive grass roots infrastructure cannot seem to match (or at least exceed) the output of countires where even a pair of football boots are considered a luxury. This video helps put things into perspective:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmYTL0CoRhA

Irrespective, I think it will be a long time before at least one African nation fails to outperform England at a World Cup. In fact a few years ago an African nation winning the World Cup would have been unthinkable. Now I'm not so sure, particularly with the ridiculously hot Qatar WC looming on the horizon.

Osaze Odewinge and Didier Drogba should lead the attack. Vincent Enyema should be the one with the gloves.

Cape Verde top Group A and a player can't sneak in here... FOR SHAME

aah you mean they are all from West Africa?

Worth reminding a couple of posters that this is a African XI for the 2010-2011 European season, not a African XI for the 2010-2011 Premier League season.

Think Piers has picked a really strong team. Maybe the fact that everyone is kicking off in the comments section highlights the depth of African footballers making an impact in the foreign game in a positive way.

Special mention for Gervinho and Sow of Lille, both having been stunning this season and combined with Hazard have been as good as any front 3 in Europe (Barca aside naturally, they are beyond comparision).

The only change I would make would be Samba for Haggui, Samba is one of the most effective defenders in the Premier League, for me second only behind Nemanja Vidic. Needs a big money move to a big club this summer.

Anyone who has mentioned any of the CFC African players obviously hasnt watched them much this year. Im a CFC seaon ticket holder and Essien has had his worst season since he joined, Mikel and Kalou have been typical Mikel and Kalou and Drogba has been off form due to Malaria, and prob had his worst season as a result.

Think Eto'o has done more than George Weah (who actually didnt score that many goals), now in 2 leagues, and one of the most consistent players in Europe. Definitely the best African player ever.

Why is Eboue not on the list?

Keita's a really lazy choice. Prince Boateng and Kwadwoah Asamoah were both pivotal in succesful teams and had good world cups. The only explanation is that you didn't follow either - dissapointing.

Weah had a great career and made great strides for African football...

BUT

Samuel Eto'o has proved wherever he has been that he has a natural killer instinct in front of goal...he is far more succesful in terms of honours than Weah (playing for some great teams...but on merit, as he is a great player).

My favourite poacher since the Brazilian Ronaldo of a few years ago :)

On another note...Assou-Ekotto...bit of a lazy choice...very dodgy season considering Spurs pretty woeful defensive displays. I'll agree to disagree!

KP Boateng and Asamoah on the bench yet Keita is in the starting 11?pretty rubbish list you've got there mate!

Best African Player of All Time? - Eusebio (Mozambique) or Zidane (Algeria)

Demba Ba scored 9 goals for Hoffenheim in around 20 games then joined West Ham in January and helped himself to 7 goals in 12 games, playing in a team that couldn't hit a barn door all season! I certainly think he's worthy of a place on your subs bench at least.

Looks like a decent selection to me, although not sure about the Assou-Ekotto selection. Taiwo has his problems defensively for sure too though.

How anyone can argue with the midfielders and strikers chosen is beyond me. They obviously don't watch anything outside of England. I therefore have no idea why they think they know better.

Tiote, Demba Ba and Taarabt are 3 good players, but they are no world beaters. It is highly insulting to suggest they are the best Africa has to offer.

aaronssportsblogs.blogspot.com

Take a look, just started doing some blogs, will add more detailed and longer ones in times, thanks