While the Euros feature some of the brightest stars in club football and the Copa America is headlined by the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar, it is worth remembering the Africa Cup of Nations also sees some of the biggest names in world football represent their countries.
As this month’s tournament draws to a conclusion, here is a look at five of the best players from Africa who are still playing today.
5. Edouard Mendy
With Kepa Arrizabalaga’s performances worsening by the week, Chelsea decided in 2020 that they needed to bring in a new shot-stopper and they opted for Edouard Mendy of Rennes, who quickly justified his £22-million price tag.
As Chelsea underwent a rapid transformation under Thomas Tuchel, Senegal international Mendy became a core member of the team, becoming the first player from his continent to play in a Champions League final last year, when the Blues defeated Man City to lift the title.
4. Achraf Hakimi
Flying right-back Achraf Hakimi may still only be 23. but already he has featured for some of Europe’s biggest clubs including Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, where he now resides.
A powerful defender, able to quickly turn defence into attack, Hakimi’s moves have already generated €100 million in transfer fees and the Moroccan talent has won the Champions League and Serie A in his career.
3. Riyad Mahrez
Whatever Manchester City and Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez goes on to achieve, winning the 2015-16 Premier League title with Leicester City and being named Players’ Player of the Year that campaign will surely go down as his most memorable accomplishment.
The creative forward has gone on to win a further two Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola at City as well as an FA Cup and he was part of the Algeria side who lifted the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
2. Sadio Mane
After a short stint at Metz, forward Sadio Mane moved to a club renowned for developing youngsters – Red Bull Salzburg – before being picked up by Premier League side Southampton.
Only two seasons later he caught the attention of a Liverpool team in a state of transition and the rest is history.
The second Senegal player on this list, Mane has evolved into one of the Premier League’s sharpest forwards, impressing in 2018-19 in particular when he won the Golden Boot with 22 strikes in 36 matches. The following season he won the Premier League with Liverpool.
1. Mohamed Salah
Already regarded as a legend at Anfield, Liverpool sensation Mo Salah had spells with Basel, Chelsea and Roma before his move to Merseyside, where he made an immediate impact.
In his debut season for the Reds, Salah finished Premier League top scorer with an eye-watering 32 goals in 36 games and he has hit at least 19 league goals in each of his four full seasons with the club.
Egypt star Salah was integral to the club’s Champions League triumph in 2018-19 too and not only goes down as one of the greatest African talents of all time, but one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League.