It is very difficult to select the best starting XI of African players playing in Europe’s best leagues. Preferably La Liga , Premier League and Bundesliga.
As the African Cup of Nation is set to kick off during this January 2017, we look at some of the best African team that could turn tables in Europe’s best leagues.
To accommodate more players, we shall focus on the formation of 4-2-3-1 with a bench of 12 players.
Squad
Denis Onyango
Sclupp, Matip, Baily, Serge Aurie
Wanyama, Yaya Toure
Mane, Mahrez,Bolassie
Aubemayang
Substitutions
Enyema, Benatia,Kolo Toure,Sako,Mikel,Elneny,Ayew,Zaha,Iwobi,Ihenacho,Ighalo,Bony
Starting XI
Goal Keeper
He is a suprising starter as you have just seen. The Ugandan keeper was named by FIFA as the best number 10 keeper.
Defence
Sclupp, Matip, Baily, Serge Aurie
A Centre back of Eric Baily from Manchester United and Joel Matip from Liverpool with be a rock solid to boot. The Ivorian and Cameroonian respectively will be supported by Schlupp and Serge Aurie on the right back and left back respectively.The Ghanian and Ivorian are good defenders to boot.
Defensive Midfield
Wanyama, Yaya Toure
The Kenyan midfielder has been a superb on form at the Spurs, on both scoring goals and coming back to defending. Pairing with Yaya Toure in midfield from Ivory, this will trouble and disrupting an attacking team.
Forward Midfield
Mane, Mahrez,Bolasie
Sadio Mane from Senegal has been scoring goals for Liverpool, with Maahrez who was the best BBC African player from Algeria and EPL champs Leicester. It will be superb to see how the two match. Yannick Bolassie from Congo and Andrew Ayew from Nigeria will be chosen basically from their current form and fitness. Both of them are superb even though I will go with Bolassie due to physicality and aerial duels. Since Mane and Riyad Mahrez posses small bodies.
Forward
Aubemayang
Piere Emerick Aubemayang has been a talisman for Bundesliga giants, Borussia Dortmond. He has the striking spot from all the way in Gabon.
Substitutions
Enyema, Benatia,Kolo Toure,Sako,Mikel,Elneny,Ayew,Zaha,Iwobi,Ihenacho,Ighalo,Bony.
The bench is a wash of the best talents to watch, majorly young stars and those subs a coach will turn to not as a second option but rather as a first option.
Kelechi Ihenacho and Alex Iwobi from Nigeria have been superb forms on run at Man City and Arsenal respectively.
The squad looks deep if you have been watching football!
