Lifestyle
Champions of England: Leicester City’s three African players set to lift the Premier League trophy
Leicester City have achieved one of the most remarkable feats in the history of the English Premier League, winning the title for the first time in their history, against all odds stacked against them. There are extraordinary tales for African players within Leicester’s Cinderella story. Star winger Riyad Mahrez became the first African to win the (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year and with Leicester winning the league title Mahrez and Ghana’s Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey will join the short but prestigious list of African players to lift the trophy in the FA Premier League era.
Leicester City have achieved one of the most remarkable feats in the history of the English Premier League, winning the League title for the first time in their history, against all odds stacked against them.
There are extraordinary subplots for African players within Leicester’s Cinderella story. One of the great subplot in Leicester’s amazing story is Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez whose remarkable exploits propelled the club to its first major title. Mahrez was recently named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year, an outstanding and unprecedented feat by an African player.
With Leicester winning the league title, Mahrez and Ghana’s Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey will join the short but prestigious list of African players to lift the English Premier League.
As the world celebrates Leicester’s historic achievement, we look at the other African players who have previously won England’s most coveted football title (in no particular order).
1. Didier Drogba: (Ivory Coast) The former Chelsea striker is the most decorated African player having won the title four times with the Blues. Drogba won the Premier League title in 2004–2005, 2005–2006, 2009–2010, 2014–2015 season respectively.
Riyad Mahrez celebrates his opening goal during the the match between Leicester City and Swansea City at The King Power Stadium EPA/Tim Keeton
2. Nwankwo Kanu: (Nigeria) Kanu won the title twice with Arsenal in 2001–2002, and 2003–2004 season.
3. Geremi Njitap: (Cameroon) Geremi lifted the title twice with Chelsea during the 2004–2005 season, and 2005–2006 campaign.
4. John Obi Mikel: (Nigeria) Mikel lifted the title twice with Chelsea, winning the 2009–2010 campaign, and the 2014–2015 season.
5. Michael Essien: (Ghana) The hard-tackling midfielder became the first Ghanaian player to win the coveted English title, lifting the trophy twice, in 2005–2006, and 2009–2010.
6. Kolo Touré: (Ivory Coast) Kolo won the title with the Gunners in the 2003–2004 season, and went on to lift the title with Manchester City in 2011–2012.
7. Salamon Kalou: (Ivory Coast) Kalou won the title with Chelsea in 2009-2010.
8. Yaya Touré: (Ivory Coast) One of Africa’s most successful stars, Yaya won the title twice with Manchester City, first in 2011–2012, and 2013–2014.
9. Quinton Fortune: (South Africa) Fortune won the title with Manchester United, when the Red Devils were crowned the 2002-2003 champions.
10. Christopher Wreh: (Liberia) Won the 1997-1998 title with Arsenal.
11. Laureano Etamé-Mayer: (Cameroon) Lauren lifted the title twice with Arsenal during the 2001–2002 season, and also won it in 2003–2004.
Source: Wiki