Chukwueze, Partey And 3 Other African Players Lighting Up La Liga

SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv have enjoyed a fantastic 2019/20 La Liga season to date. During this period of reduced football activity, we take a look at the top five African players in La Liga.

Samuel Chukwueze – Nigeria, Villarreal

Samuel Chukwueze of Nigeria during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations 3rd and 4th Place match between Tunisia and Nigeria at the Al Salam Stadium, Cairo on the 17 July 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Appearances (subs) 13 (13)

Minutes played 1426

Goals 3

Assists 1

Yellow cards 1

Red Cards 0

Pass completion 72.2%

Samuel Chukwueze is undoubtedly one of African football’s rising stars, even if this La Liga season has not been quite as impressive as his first for Villarreal. The 20-year-old Nigerian needs to score more goals according to an African and La Liga legend, Samuel Eto’o: “He is a quality player and he needs to score more goals, but he has the quality and ability to be more than just a goalscoring forward. Once he gets all of that he will be top.”

Thomas Partey – Ghana, Atletico Madrid

epa07887176 Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League match between Lokomotiv Moscow and Atletico Madrid in Moscow, Russia, 01 October 2019. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

Appearances (subs) 21 (3)

Minutes played 1841

Goals 2

Assists 0

Yellow cards 10

Red Cards 0

Pass completion 83.1%

This La Liga season has been one in which Ghanaian Thomas Partey has truly established himself as a regular for Atletico Madrid, with manager Diego Simeone showing more faith in the Black Stars midfielder.

Football pundit Shaka Hislop believes Arsenal should move quickly to capitalise on rumours that they are interested in signing the player: “If you’re Arsenal and you can somehow price Partey away from Atletico Madrid, absolutely you do it all day every day. He sits in front of the back four, I’m still not sure that there are many better box-to-box midfielders in the game. If you get this done, do it now, do it quick.”

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa – Cameroon, Villarreal

epa08036205 Villarreal CF’s midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (L) celebrates after scoring a goal against Valencia CF during their Spanish LaLiga Primer Division soccer match played at Mestalla stadium in Valencia, eastern Spain, 30 November 2019. EPA/Juan Carlos Cardenas

Appearances (subs) 18 (7)

Minutes played 1682

Goals 1

Assists 0

Yellow cards 6

Red Cards 0

Pass completion 85.8%

Only one goal so far in this La Liga season for Cameroonian Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, but his value lies in the tireless work he contributes to Villarreal’s midfield and his ability to link defense and attack with his running power. “At Villarreal, because of the quality of the players [we have] and the style of play, I am playing more as a box-to-box [midfielder], and I feel my abilities are utilized both defensively and offensively,” explained the Indomitable Lions star.

Youssef En-Nesyri – Morocco, Leganes & Sevilla

epa08206195 Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Celta Vigo and Sevilla FC at Balaidos stadium in Vigo, northern Spain, 09 February 2020. EPA/SALVADOR SAS

Appearances (subs) 15 (3)

Minutes played 1385

Goals 4

Assists 2

Yellow cards 2

Red Cards 0

Pass completion 57.3%

Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri so impressed for Leganes in the first half of the current La Liga season that he earned a move to Champions League-chasing Sevilla in the January transfer window. The Atlas Lions player is not a prolific scorer (as a return of just four goals in 2019/20 suggests) but his ability to create space and chances for others makes him a perfect foil for attacking midfielders to play around.

Idrissu Baba Mohammed – Ghana, Mallorca

epa08053567 FC Barcelona’s midfielder Frenkie de Jong (R) in action against Idrissu Baba (L) of Mallorca during a Spanish LaLiga soccer match between FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, northeastern Spain, 07 December 2019. EPA/ALEJANDRO GARCIA

Appearances (subs) 25 (0)

Minutes played 2090

Goals 0

Assists 0

Yellow cards 5

Red Cards 0

Pass completion 80.3%

No goals or assists yet in this La Liga season for Ghanaian Idrissu Baba Mohammed, but his reliability and consistency in midfield is absolutely key to Mallorca’s hopes of remaining in the Spanish top flight. “Baba is an important player for us, a hard-worker as a midfielder who is reliable and able to provide defensive skills,” said Mallorca manager Vicente Moreno. “He has grown strongly as a player and I hope he can help us achieve our goal for the season.”

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