Midfielders are generally considered the backbone of any squad.
Here are 5 Best Midfielders Africa Has Ever Produced
Table of Contents
5. SEYDOU KEITA
He spent his best season playing for the Catalan giants after moving to Barcelona in 2008 for a reported 14 million euros.
He played in 119 games for the team and scored 16 goals, making him the first Malian player. He added 14 titles with the team.
When he was 18 years old, Keita started representing his nation on the international stage.
He participated in seven Africa Cup of Nations games, earned 102 caps, and scored 25 goals.
Due to his skills as an active midfielder, he was able to play for clubs in China, Spain, France, Qatar, and Italy.
Keita has won two UCL championships, three La Liga championships, one Ligue One championship, and two FIFA global club championships.
4. YAYA TOURE
In the 2013-2014 campaign, he received the BBC African Footballer of the Year and Manchester City Player of the Year awards.
In 101 appearances while a member of the Ivory Coast national team, Toure scored 19 goals in 2006, 2010, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Toure has won two La Liga championships, three Premier League championships, one UCL championship, one FA Cup, and three English league cups.
3. MICHAEL ESSIEN
In his era, Essien was regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world.
He was named Ligue One Player of the Month in October 2004 and Ligue One Player of the Year in the 2004-2005 season.
He received the BBC African Footballer of the Year and Chelsea Player of the Year awards for the 2006–2007 campaign.
Essien was chosen as the 2007 Ghanaian Player of the Year.
2. ABEDI PELE
He is one of the best players of his generation as well as one of the greatest African footballers of all time.
In 1991, he received the BBC African Footballer of the Year and African Footballer of the Year awards. In 1992, he was awarded the golden ball at the African Nations Cup. Abedi was honored as Ghana’s Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Between 1982 and 1998, he scored 19 goals while earning 73 Ghanaian caps.
Pele won one Champions League, one Africa Cup of Nations, three Ligue 1 championships, and one UAE title.
1. JAY-JAY OKOCHA
In March 2004, Pele, a legendary Brazilian footballer, listed him as one of the best 125 players still playing. In 1993, he won the Germany goal of the year title.
In 1995, 1997, and 2000, he was awarded Nigerian Footballer of the Year. From 2002 until 2005, the feat was repeated by him.
In addition to being voted BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2003 and 2004, he was also selected BBC Goal of the Month in April 2003. In November 2003, he also received the Premier League Player of the Month award.
He has been named both the best player and top scorer at the 2004 African Cup of Nations.
He scored 14 goals in 73 games for the Nigerian national team.
