When Enyeama and Messi shared an iconic moment at the World Cup

The rivalry between Nigeria and Argentina has been one that has long terrorized Nigerian fans. Argentina defeated the Super Eagles at the 1994 World Cup, and then again at the 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups. Although Nigeria’s youth teams have gotten the best of their Argentine counterparts at various youth competitions, the rivalry between the two countries at the senior level has been largely one-sided.

Flashback to the 2014 World Cup, when the two nations met in Porto Alegre, Brazil to contest  their third and final group-stage match. Argentina were already through to the knockout rounds after defeating Bosnia and Iran with relative ease. For Nigeria, however, their destiny was not set after only having four points.

The Super Eagles, led by the likes of Ahmed Musa, Joseph Yobo, and John Obi Mikel, posed the greatest challenge to the Argentines in the group stage - continuing their infamous rivalry.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the third minute after a freak deflection of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s save on Angel Di Maria fell perfectly to the Barcelona star for him to smash it into the back of the net. 

Just a minute later, though, Ahmed Musa equalized the score in the fourth minute with a moment of individual brilliance. He cut in from the left side of the box before sending a rocket to the far post and into the back of the net. The Argentines were shocked.

Throughout the first half Super Eagles goalkeeper Enyeama was being constantly battered with shots from Argentina’s stars. He parried a long range strike from Di Maria before making an excellent save to deny Lionel Messi’s free kick that was bending into the top-right corner.

Unfortunately for Enyeama and the Super Eagles, he couldn’t stop Messi’s next free kick on the brink of half time - with the Argentine legend flaunting his brilliance on the world stage.

At half-time Enyeama was filmed imploring the referee to stop giving Messi free-kicks, saying:
"The guy is so good...and I'm s--t." The Nigerian got a laugh out of the referee but he responded saying “I know your job is very difficult”.

Musa equalized again when he converted after a one-two with strike partner Emmanuel Emenike just after half-time to send the fans watching into a frenzy. Just a few minutes later though Marcos Rojo got his foot on a headed ball after a corner and directed it into the back of the net, giving Enyeama no chance.

Enyeama and Messi battling it out at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In the 58th minute, with Argentina leading 3-2, Messi had a chance to double his side’s lead but put his first-touch effort just wide due to pressure from 20-year-old centre-back Kenneth Omeruo. As the players returned to their positions for their ensuing goal-kick, Enyeama shared a beautiful moment with the GOAT when he touched his neck pretending to check his pulse to see if Messi was human. It was a heart-warming moment as Enyeama was able to have some fun with the superstar despite the fact his team was losing.

Perhaps Enyeama and his team-mates took the pressure off as they knew Bosnia were defeating Iran, meaning that Nigeria would advance to the next round regardless of their result versus Argentina.

The two met four years earlier when Enyeama put up yet another heroic performance in the World Cup despite another loss to the South American powerhouses, so maybe the two were comfortable with each other.

But regardless, it was a great scene and one of the most memorable African moments in World Cup history.

Farid Boulaya: Algeria’s joker at AFCON?

When Djamel Belmadi won the AFCON with Algeria in 2019, it was with Baghdad Bounedjah, Riyadh Mahrez and Youcef Belaili up top. The Foxes lived up to their name, serving up performances that set tongues wagging with effortless grace and swagger. The oft direct and quick transitioning moves were mixed with moments of genius from Adam Ounas and Riyadh Mahrez as well as delectable free flowing football. They simply knew when to bite, and they sure bit hard. However, as with every winning team, evolution is an essence.

Enter style of play, personnel adjustments, and tactical tweaks. The Algerian manager has shown this subsequently, with Les Verts still unbeaten since a 1-0 loss to Benin in 2018. However, a quite interesting move that seemingly flew under the radar was the call-up of uncapped 28-year old Farid Boulaya in October 2020, post-lockdown. 

Boulaya has become a part of the Les Verts set-up since that debut against Nigeria, and made three appearances while scoring one goal. Many would point to Zinedine Ferhat, Hicham Boudaoui, Haris Belkebla, Mehdi Zerkane and Ramiz Zerrouki as perhaps younger and more efficient options, but it is Boulaya who stands above the lot as Djamel Belmadi seeks a joker who could alter the pH of games in Cameroon and beyond.

A midfielder who can also play as a wide forward, Boulaya plays for Metz in the French Ligue 1. Born in Vitrolles, in the Cote d'Azur region of France, he honed his skills in the French lower divisions with Istres and Clermont Foot, graduating from the Istres academy in 2011. He warmed hearts with his long range shooting and penchant for weighted long balls, as well as an ability to pick spaces where they seemingly aren't existent. His 5'11" frame perhaps helping in this regard. He has since grown to a full Ligue 1 player, and has had his best output in the just concluded 2020/21 season.

It however could be at the AFCON that he would prove a Blitzkrieg. 

Underlying Numbers:

Somewhat of a late bloomer, Boulaya has grown in leaps and bounds, emerging as the 8th best of the group of players who started 30 or more games in the Ligue 1 this season according to Whoscored. He contributed 14 of Metz's 44 Ligue 1 goals (that is 32% of their total tally). There are only few players with equally such numbers: Kylian Mbappe, Ludovic Ajorque, Burak Yilmaz, Gaetan Laborde, Andy Delort and Memphis Depay. It's an exclusive list, and his overall contributions explain why Metz were able to consolidate on a fine start to the season despite the injury to Senegalese hitman Ibrahim Niane. 

 His 0.83 shots per 90 ranks him in the top 2 percent rankings of that metric. He is above the 92nd percentile in progressive passing distance (218.73km per 90), key passes per 90 (2.37) and passes into the final third per 90 (4.67). He is a high risk taker, and it reflects in his shot-creating actions per 90 (4.73) while also boasting a 93rd percentile ranking for total progressive carries per 90.

Boulaya is ambidextrous but predominantly uses his right foot. It is no surprise they make up most of his goals, with free kicks, and curlers that ripple the net like ocean waves. His sleekness and finesse come off with consummate ease and it is why he commits defenders easily. Whether on the right, left or thru the centre, he conveniently makes the game look easy, and ensures his strikers see the game better. Metz have greatly benefitted from these situations with his goal/assist contributions directly winning 18 of their 47points. It surely would appeal to Belmadi who seems to have a fixed 11 at this juncture for Algeria. However, should the Foxes run into any sort of trouble, there is an exciting solution on the bench.

How Mulenga set the PSL on fire with AmaZulu

The story of AmaZulu FC has been one of the best in the PSL this season.

Led by legendary Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy as head coach with a side that narrowly avoided relegation last season, not many predicted AmaZulu to do very well this season - despite their owners’ grandiose claim that they would finish top four. Nobody thought they would finish second.

It was largely thanks to the work of Zambian international Augustine Mulenga, whose virtuoso performances throughout the season propelled the Durban side to near the top of the log. With five goals and eleven assists, the 31-year-old was crucial to his side’s success.

Mulenga at his former club, Orlando Pirates.

It’s a shame that he was not nominated for any of the PSL awards, as he was one of the best performers in the league across the season.

Mulenga’s redemption story this season might be as great as his team’s success was.

Born in Lusaka, Mulenga established himself in his country’s domestic league, playing for some of Zambia’s largest clubs in Nkana and Zanaco.

He made his move to the big-time of African football when Orlando Pirates signed him in 2018 following his impressive play with Zambia’s local-based side at the 2018 African Nations Championship. Unfortunately he failed to hit it off at Pirates, and struggled to earn a consistent starting striker role at the South African giants.

Mulenga (right) in action for his country.

Since leaving Pirates and signing for AmaZulu at the beginning of this season, the 31-year old has resurrected his career.

Playing in a deeper role after Benni McCarthy found it best to utilize the Zambian as a creative midfielder rather than forward, Mulenga directly contributed to 16 goals in 25 games - scoring five and assisting eleven.

McCarthy’s unlocking of Mulenga was crucial to his success as manager, especially during their impeccable run of form from late January to early May that saw the Usuthu win 12 out of 14 league games.

“Each player has his duty on the field and what I’m always looking forward to is if I don’t score, at least I can assist. That makes me happy because it means I’m doing something for the team.”

— Augustine Mulenga, AmaZulu FC

The Zambian was also named the man of the match on four occasions this season, which is the second best behind Swallows FC ‘s Tlakusani Mthethwa who won six accolades.

Mulenga's starring performances throughout the campaign has allowed his side to play in the CAF Champions League for the first time ever next season - as long as Kaizer Chiefs don’t win the ongoing CAFCL.

Mulenga’s performances with the Durban side has seen him regain an important role with his national team, with Chipololo head coach Micho (who previously managed Mulenga at Pirates) a close follower of his lively showings in the league. He has 26 national team caps and will surely add more if he's to continue with his impressive displays.

It will be very interesting to see if Mulenga and AmaZulu can perform in the Champions League and if they can replicate their performances in the league next season or even win the league.

Should Callum Hudson-Odoi play for Ghana?

Yes he should.

Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi has made headlines across the African football sphere for his arrival in Ghana for vacation just days after lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy with the London side. 

He was shown on social media in Accra hanging around with famed Ghanaian musician King Promise before playing in a friendly match donning his Chelsea kit.

Some are calling his trip to Ghana a homecoming, while others are even believing it is a sign he will switch his international footballing allegiance from England (his country of birth) to Ghana (the country of his parents). 

Ghana (and Ghanaian football) runs deep in his family’s history. Aside from his Ghanaian ancestry, his father Bismark Odoi played for famed Ghanaian side Accra Hearts of Oak and his older brother Bradley (who is Callum’s agent) was born in Accra and played for Ghana’s U20 side.

The flashy winger made his Chelsea debut in January 2018, quickly impressing to the point that German giants Bayern Munich made numerous public bids for the youngster.

He’s been playing senior level football for Chelsea for so long that we forget he’s only 20.

After representing England at every level from U-16 to U-19, Hudson-Odoi was called up to the senior squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers by manager Gareth Southgate in March 2019. After coming on as a substitute in a 5-0 win over the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium he became the youngest player to make his debut for England in a competitive match aged 18 years and 135 days, breaking a record set by Manchester United legend Duncan Edwards in 1955.

He registered an assist in his first start three days later, before appearing against Kosovo in another Euro qualifier in November of that year.

That match against Kosovo was the last time he played for the Three Lions, almost two years ago.

Despite signing a five-year contract extension in September 2019, he struggled for game time under Frank Lampard - making just 7 Premier League starts in the 19/20 season.

The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as manager in January 2021 gave a short boost of energy to his Chelsea career, with the winger frequently appearing in the German manager’s teams. Unfortunately this would not stick, as he appeared in only five of sixteen games for the Blues from April to the end of the season.

Subsequently, England manager Gareth Southgate did not include the 20-year-old in his squad for the Euro 2020 tournament - reopening the Pandora’s Box of African football fans wondering if players in Hudson-Odoi’s position should switch nationalities to their African roots.

Hudson-Odoi making his international debut for England in Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Able to switch his international allegiance to Ghana due to FIFA’s new eligibility rules, the Chelsea man will likely consider his international future when he watches England at the Euros this summer from his couch.

It’s an interesting dilemma for Hudson-Odoi. Once one of the world’s most sought-after youngsters, a tough two years has seen him fall down the pecking order at club and country - although it is clear he is still a player with an abundance of ability and potential.

The recent emergence of fellow English starlets Jadon Sancho, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Mason Greenwood has made it even harder for Hudson-Odoi to envision a future as a starter for the Three Lions. Although still aged 20, who knows how good he could be in a few years’ time.

In the immediate future though, keeping next January’s AFCON in mind, switching to Ghana could be very enticing.

For Ghanaian and African football, the benefits of an established player like Callum Hudson-Odoi switching to Ghana are so obvious. He would be the best attacker on the team by some distance, and would give Ghana fans significantly more hope in their attacking corps heading into next year's AFCON. Additionally, the prospect of him linking up with Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus (20), Ajax-bound Kamaldeen Sulemana (19), and Liverpool-bound Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (17) would make Ghana a force to be reckoned with on the international stage for at least the next decade.

Not to mention, a player of his caliber switching to an African nation could encourage other Afro-European stars to follow his path or even persuade youngsters to skip playing for their adopted nations at youth level and play for their African counterparts. The impact of the latter would be incredibly significant for African football, as having elite youth talents playing in African youth teams would go a long way towards improving the level of youth football on the continent.

For Hudson-Odoi, the player would likely prefer the glamor of playing for England over Ghana and obviously has strong ties to the Three Lions considering he has been a part of their setup since he was 14. 

However, should he switch international allegiance, the benefits to him would be multifold.

Not only would he be the best attacker on the team and get to pull the strings on the pitch, but he would also have millions of soccer-loving Ghanaians fervently supporting him at club and country. It could do wonders for his brand, as he would be the face of his country’s football team alongside fellow London-based Premier League footballer Thomas Partey.

He would be tasked with ensuring the return of the Black Stars as an African football powerhouse. And should Hudson-Odoi, Kudus, Sulemana, and Issahaku fulfill their potentials, a deep run in the World Cup wouldn’t be out of the question.

Imagine what he could do for Ghana at the coming AFCON and World Cup, it would almost surely trump cameos against the likes of Kosovo and Montenegro.

At the end of the day, the choice is obviously his. Where his allegiance lies, and if it has wavered since being snubbed from the Euros squad, is only known by him and his family. But given his precarious international future with England, his Ghanian connection, and the glory that would come with putting on the Black Stars shirt, it would make a lot of sense for him to play for Ghana.

Cameroon’s top 10 scorers this season

Cameroon is a country that has been blessed with a plethora of prolific goal-scoring strikers. AfricanFtbl’s Cameroonian correspondent Beng Emmanuel ranks the top 10 Cameroonian goal scorers in the 2020/21 season.

1-Jean-Pierre Nsame (19 Goals) - Young Boys, Switzerland

For the second successive season, Jean Pierre Nsame was crowned top scorer of the Swiss Super League with 19 goals. It appears the lethal finisher has found his groove in Switzerland, although he failed to break his 32 goals mark of the previous season.

Nsame, 28, played a pivotal role as Young Boys clinched the Swiss Super League for the fourth year in a row. He has scored more goals than any other Cameroonian this year and remains one of the most consistent scorers from the African continent.

2-Vincent Aboubakar (15 Goals) - Besiktas, Turkey

In his first stint since re-joining Besiktas in 2020, Vincent Aboubakar was simply phenomenal. The former FC Porto striker bagged 15 goals in 26 games to help the Black and whites to a domestic double - winning the Super Lig and Turkish Cup.

According to Kick442, Besiktas has offered the Cameroonian international a one-year extension deal. His current contract expires on May 31.

3-Karl Toko Ekambi (14 Goals) - Lyon, France

His transformation this season for Olympique Lyon has been largely commendable.

The 28-year-old struggled to live up to expectation in 2019, scoring only two times. But he has become a sharp shooter, featuring 14 times on the score sheet for Lyon this campaign.

Despite his impressive goal scoring form, Lyon missed out on a Champions League spot after losing to OGC Nice in their final game of the season. He was shortlisted for the 2021 Marc Vivian Foe Award although Ekambi, who won the award in 2018, failed to make it among the three finalists.

4-Leandre Tawamba (14 goals) - Al-Taawoun, Saudi Arabia

At 31, the converted player is enjoying a fine campaign. He has netted 14 goals for Al- Taawoun including three assist.

He may be far from breaking his record in 2018/2019 when he finished as the top scorer of the club with 27 goals across all competitions, but he has remained largely influential.

Al-Taawoun is 4th in the Saudi Arabian top flight with 47 points.

5-Joel Tague (9 Goals) - Maritimo, Portugal

Joel Tague and Maritimo experienced mix fortunes in the Primeira Liga this season.

The 27-year-old Cameroonian international has been outstanding in Portugal, finishing joint top scorer of his club with 9 goals in 27 matches.

And while the quick and fearless forward settles on a comfortable standing on the goal chart, Maritimo barely escaped the relegation playoffs after finishing 15th.

6-Didier Lamkel Ze (8 Goals) - Royal Antwerp, Belgium

Only Dieumerci Mbokani and Lior Refaelov have scored more goals that Lamkel Ze for Royal Antwerp this season.

He started in 19 of his 21 games scoring 8 goals - two more than his tally last year. The 24-year-old has been a key man for his club.

Didier Lamkel Ze sent Royal Antwerp to the UEFA Europa League with his winner against RSC Anderlecht in the Belgium Pro League championship round. He won the player of the month award in February alongside several Man of the Match awards.

7-Ignatius Ganago (7 Goals) - RC Lens, France

The youngster is gradually maturing into one of the established scorers at RC Lens. He scored 7 goals this season in 24 outing to become the third top scorer of the club.

Not only has the native of Douala earned considerable first team opportunities, he also helped the Ligue 1 side retain her top tier status after gaining promotion in April 2020.

Ganago, 22, is tipped to further thrive in France after showing brilliance with the blood and gold in his first spell at the club.

8-Stephane Bahoken (6 Goals) - Angers, France

Angers may not have enjoyed a blissful season, but Stephane Bahoken has shown signs of progress from his last campaign.

He got off to a slow start but improved, although he couldn’t inspire Angers to their first French Cup title. They lost heavily in the quarter-final to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain 0-5.

The 29-year-old failed to reach double figures for the second successive year after scoring 11 in 2019. This season he bagged six goals in 30 games.

Bahoken is hoping his performance in France this season will help him make the cut in Cameroon’s squad for next year’s Nations Cup finals.

T9-Marius Noubissi (4 Goals) - Beerschot, Belgium

Marius Noubissi was very prolific during the early half of the Belgian First Division League. Unfortunately, he faded so badly that he only scored 4 times this season in 16 games. He was last on target in January against Eupen.

He signed an 18-month extension deal in April with his new contract to expire in 2022. Hopefully, he could repay his club by being remarkably consistent next season.

T9-Serge Tabekou (4 Goals) - Royal Excel Mouscron , Belgium

The 24-year-old midfielder was among the leading light of Royal Excel Mouscron in just his first stint with the Belgium club.

Tabekou made 30 appearances this season, scoring 4 goals as his club suffered relegation to the inferior league. He scored more goals than his compatriots Jean Emile Junior Onana (2) and Fabrice Olinga (2).

Only Nuno Da Costa has scored more goals than the Cameroonian midfielder - who is becoming an undisputed star for Royal Excel Mouscron.

T9-Njie Clinton (4 Goals)-Dynamo Moscow (Russia)

The Russia Premier Liga has not been kind to Njie Clinton since his move from Marseille. He has laboured to regain his spark and more significantly his desire to bolster his goal tallies.

Njie, 27 has battled with frequent injuries but struggled to finish among the top five scorers for his club with 4 goals in 23 games. The speedy winger is keen to return to his once impressive form.

Can Kelechi Iheanacho become 'world class'?

Back in 2016 Kelechi Iheanacho was tipped to become a world-beater. He was scoring goals with ease for Manchester City as an 18-year-old and everyone was wondering how good he could become. 

He finished the 2015/16 season as City’s third highest scorer with 14 goals and 5 assists in all competitions, including leading the English Premier League in goals-per-minute (averaging a goal every 94 minutes).

He started the next season off with a bang, scoring and assisting in a 2-1 win over Manchester United. A 19-year-old dominating in the Manchester Derby was almost unthinkable, and it made City and Nigeria fans excited for the future. He joined an exclusive list that included the likes of Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku when he scored his 10th Premier League goal before the age of 20, and was even nominated for the 2016 FIFA Golden Boy award.

A young Iheanacho with Manchester City.

Unfortunately, new manager Pep Guardiola was somehow unsatisfied with the Nigerian striker, and sold the starlet to Leicester City for £25m. This is where things started to get complicated. Kelechi only started 7 Premier League games in the 2017/18 season, and continued to be a back-up for the prolific Jamie Vardy for the next 2.5 years - only getting significant playing time in the FA and EFL Cups.

Even at the beginning of the 2020/21 season Kelechi was not in the first-team, and was expected to watch his side from the bench for most of the campaign. However, as we now know, this was not the case. Significant injuries to attacking players Cengiz Under, Harvery Barnes, and James Maddison created openings in the squad and Iheanacho took his chances well, if not perfectly.

After starting only two EPL games in the season before 2021, Kelechi hit unprecedented streaks of playing time and goal-scoring form for his Leicester career in the second half of the season. Before March 2021 Kelechi had scored five goals and assisted three, with only one of his goals coming in league play. However due to the aforementioned injuries in addition to the sidelining of club legend Jamie Vardy with a groin issue, Kelechi was given the chance to lead the Leicester line for the rest of the season.

Kelechi with his Premier League Player of the Month award.

His March began with a goal against Burnley. Three days later he scored again in his side’s 2-1 win over Brighton. The next game he netted his first-ever Premier League hat-trick in Leicester’s 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United. In a span of 11 days the Nigerian had scored as many league goals (5) as he had in the entirety of the last season. A week later he was responsible for every goal in Leicester’s 3-1 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup, scoring two and assisting one goal. This performance was especially significant for the fact that it catapulted him to the top of the all-time African scorers in the FA Cup list, with his 14 goals eclipsing Didier Drogba’s 12.

He won the March Premier League Player of the Month award, but his form didn’t stop there. He either scored or assisted in all of the four league games in April, netting four and providing two goals. During April he also sent his side to the FA Cup final, scoring the lone goal against Southampton at Wembley to send the Leicester fans into a frenzy. He concluded the season with two goals in May, while also helping his side lift the FA Cup after defeating Chelsea in the final. 

Unfortunately for Leicester the end of their season was bittersweet as they failed to qualify for the Champions League, however, their fans had the FA Cup glory and the shock rise of Kelechi to make up for the blow.

Iheanacho finished the season with 19 goals in all competitions (12 in the league, 4 in the FA Cup, and 3 in the Europa League), a career high. He’s shown us what he’s capable of when given consistent play-time, and the advanced statistics give us a closer look at just how good he was.

He led the league in goals-per-minute (the second time he’s done that in his career) by averaging .74 goals every 90 minutes, .07 more than second-placed Harry Kane. Moreover, when you remove penalties from the equation the stats favor Kelechi even more since the Nigerian did not score any penalties this season. The gap between first-placed Kelechi and second placed Edinson Cavani grows to .09. Kelechi ranked second in Non-Penalty Goals + Assists/90 with .86, behind Harry Kane who averaged .96. 

The more advanced statistics which measure how efficient the player was with his shots also highlight Kelechi’s magnificence. He averaged .21 goals per shot (7th in the league), meaning that every one in five of his shots ended up in the back of the net.

Expected goals, which measures the probability of every shot being a goal based on location, is a popular way to evaluate the quality of chances a player has taken over the course of a season. The 24-year-old Nigerian averaged .43 non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes, ninth highest in the league. This means that Kelechi was one of the top players in the league in terms of getting into good scoring positions.

For a striker however, actually scoring goals is generally more important than getting into good positions, which is where comparing the player’s actual goal return and expected goals helps us evaluate how clinical the player was. Kelechi overperformed his non-penalty expected goals by 5, meaning that the Nigerian was expected to score 7 league goals based on the quality of his chances but actually scored 12. Iheanacho was third in the league in this metric (non-penalty goals minus non-penalty expected goals), behind Tottentham’s Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale.

With Jamie Vardy continuing to age (he turns 35 in January), it’s expected that Leieceter boss Brendan Rodgers will need to rely more heavily on the Nigerian striker next season. But the question on my mind is: can he replicate this form across an entire season?

Kelechi and his compatriot Wilfred Ndidi.

Overperforming your expected goals does mean that the player shot better than expected, but it could also mean that their goal-scoring form is unsustainable and that they will revert to the average in the future.

His goals per 90 stat indicates that he would lead the league in goals if he played as many minutes as the likes of Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah, which would almost surely make him a ‘world class’ player. However, we know this is unlikely to happen as opposition defenses would be better prepared to mark him if he was starting every week as opposed to the limited minutes he received last season.

On the other hand, Kelechi had a run of over 10 games towards the end of the season where he started every game - and he scored in most of those games. It will be interesting to see what happens next season.

Regardless, it’s inspiring to see how he has rebuilt his career and stuck himself into the conversation of the best strikers in the Premier League.

All stats came from fbref.com

Why Édouard Mendy should be African Footballer of the Year

First African goalkeeper to win the UEFA Champions League. Édouard Mendy will have quite a story to tell his grandchildren in the future.

Amongst all of the redemption and heart-warming stories within Chelsea’s improbable Champions League title this season, perhaps none are more striking than Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy’s.

After being released from French lower league side AS Cherbourg in 2014 aged 22 Mendy struggled to find a new club, leading him to register for unemployment and consider ending his dreams of becoming a footballer. If you told him then that he would be the number one goalkeeper for one of the biggest clubs in the world in 2021, let alone lifting the Champions League trophy, he almost surely would have thought you were crazy. It was unimaginable. But it happened.

Mendy arrived at Chelsea this season relatively unknown and, given the shockingly poor performances of £71m goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, was not faced with a lot of pressure. Regardless, he exceeded every expectation of him with flying colours. 

He conceded one goal in his Blues debut against Tottenham in the EFL Cup as they lost 5-4 in penalties, but despite the loss he showed his quality - making numerous big saves and giving Chelsea fans a newfound confidence in their goalkeeper. 

He then went the next two months (6 matches) without conceding a single goal, including a shutout in his Champions League debut against Sevilla. It was a marked improvement from his European exploits with Stade Rennais in the Europa League last season, where he conceded 6 goals in 4 games (including a red card in the fifth minute in a 1-0 loss to Romain CFR Cluj). 

He experienced a rough patch of form in December, making a rather poor mistake leading to a goal against Leeds, before consecutive losses to Chelsea and Wolves. He bounced back with a clean sheet against West Ham, before conceding three goals to both Arsenal and Manchester City in the following two weeks. But for Mendy, who was about to end his footballing career in 2015 had it not been for his friend and former teammate Ted Lavie recommending him to Marseille to fill a goalkeeping vacancy in the reserve team, this was just a small blip in his story.

Mendy joined Marseille for the 2015/16 season as the fourth string goalkeeper, playing as a backup for the B team. His trial with the club was so good that he convinced the club to offer him a one-year amateur contract on a minimum salary, allowing him to train and develop at one of France’s biggest clubs, although he only played a handful of times for the reserve team. 

The next season he moved to Ligue 2 side Reims as a backup, signing his first ever professional contract. He impressed in the limited chances he got, so much so that he earned the starting role for the next season - a first in his career.

He was solid as they won the Ligue 2 title and thus earned promotion to the first division. He played every game in his first season in top-flight football as Reims exceeded expectations to finish eighth.

His performances were impressive enough to convince Stade Rennais to purchase him for around £4m. He performed even better at the Brittany-based side, keeping nine clean sheets in 24 matches to help his side finish third and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. 

It was during Mendy’s time at Rennes that he made his Senegal debut. Interestingly enough, he was initially called up to the Guinea-Bissau camp for a friendly in 2016, choosing to represent the country of his father who was very ill at the time. Since the match was not regulated by FIFA, he knew that playing for Guinea-Bissau this time would not prevent him from eventually playing for the country of his mother, Senegal. Mendy was not impressed by the Guinea-Bissau setup and eventually decided to pledge his international future to the Teranga Lions - where he incidentally made his debut against Guinea-Bissau.

Once again, Mendy became the first-choice goalkeeper and started in Senegal’s first two AFCON 2019 matches before a broken finger forced him to withdraw from the squad. Senegal proceeded to reach the final of the tournament without him, losing 1-0 to Algeria. Mendy now heads into the next AFCON as one of the best African goalkeepers, if not the best, as the Teranga Lions look to win the continental spectacle. 

However, arguably more important for his career, it was at Rennes that Chelsea’s legendary goalkeeper Petr Cech scouted Mendy and eventually convinced the London club’s board to sign him. With Kepa continuing to disappoint the Chelsea faithful with shocker after shocker, Chelsea were forced to buy a replacement and it was Mendy they chose, following the recommendation of their iconic goalkeeper and paying Rennes £22m to secure his signature.

Mendy’s excellent save against Sevilla.

Mendy had been playing fairly well under Frank Lampard in his first few months at Chelsea, adjusting incredibly well to a new league and it’s playing style, something his Spanish predecessor in goal failed to do. Mendy was keeping the defense sturdy, but the attack was floundering - especially the new signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. Following a 2-0 loss to Leicester Lampard was sacked and former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel was appointed Chelsea boss.

After proving himself as the number one under Lampard Mendy had to do the same for Tuchel and just that he did. In his first five games under the German manager he conceded just two goals, keeping three clean sheets. It was in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages that Mendy really established himself as a top-class goalkeeper, first keeping a clean sheet in both Round of 16 legs against Atletico Madrid as Chelsea advanced 2-0 on aggregate. 

In the first leg of the quarter-finals against Porto Mendy kept another sheet as his side won 2-0, and conceded one goal in the second leg. Out all of the UCL knockout opponents that the Blues faced this season including Manchester City and Real Madrid, it was actually Porto that gave the Chelsea defense the most trouble as they created far more threatening chances. Had it not been for Mendy, it’s possible that the London side could have crashed out in the Quarter-Finals. 

He similarly conceded conceded one goal over two legs to Real Madrid, although Mendy was praised even more for his shot-stopping efforts, notably making a crucial save on a thunderous strike from Karim Benzema. Back in the Premier League he saved Sergio Aguero’s panenka penalty in a 2-1 win over then EPL Champions-elect Manchester City, and continued his fine form to finish out the domestic campaign as Chelsea finished in a top four spot.

In the Champions League final against City Mendy did not have much to do thanks to the solid defense ahead of him and the lackluster nature of the City attacks. Regardless, he kept a clean sheet as his side won 1-0 to lift the most prestigious trophy in club football. It was historic in many senses: he kept nine clean sheets in 12 UCL games - conceding only three goals and equalling the record for the most clean sheets in a UCL campaign. Perhaps more significantly: he became the first African and first Black African goalkeeper to win the UEFA Champions League. It is worth noting that Bruce Grobbelaar won the European Cup with Liverpool in 1984, however this was before the modern era of the Champions League and Grobbelaar was not black.

Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana was arguably the best African goalkeeper a few seasons ago for his performances with Ajax in the UCL.

The goalkeeper position has long been dominated by white men, with the likes of Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana even claiming an Italian side refused to sign him because he was black. A Black goalkeeper in elite European football is a rare sight, with the most prominent example being Brazilian Dida at AC Milan from 2000-2010. Very few Black goalkeepers have been able to advance to the next level due to the prejudice that exists against Black players in goal. This is why Mendy’s UCL victory is so significant - he is a pioneer.

It is for this reason that Édouard Mendy should win the African Footballer of the Year award. Assuming he keeps up a decent level of performances to close out the year, only the likes of Riyad Mahrez and maybe Achraf Hakimi have played well enough this season to warrant a place in the discussions, and I think it’s not outlandish to say Mendy has been better than both of them. Aside from the historic nature of his accomplishments and the heart-warming story of his rise to the top, the 6’6 shot stopper has imposed himself as not only the Chelsea and Senegal number one, but also as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. This needs to be rewarded.

Shout out to Brother Edouard Mendy. Considering the historical lack of Black goalkeepers in Europe at top clubs, and especially darker-skinned Black goalkeepers, this is a pleasing development. https://t.co/XHi3XHHxOi

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) May 29, 2021

'It felt like I killed my dad': a Nigerian footballer's tale of pain, setbacks and redemption

Nigerian starlet Wasiu Alalade with the Nigeria Super Eaglets

It was easy to feel the pain that shadowed his voice as Nigerian footballer Wasiu Alalade opened up to AfricanFtbl’s Zazi Bariza.

Once regarded as one of Nigeria's brightest prospects, Alalade had everything going for him until a sad twist of events left him in a state of depression and on the verge of early retirement.

From almost leading Nigeria's attack at a major international tournament to almost losing his career - all in the span of a month - Alalade surely needed an extra layer of skin to overcome the disappointments that nearly hacked down his dream of becoming an international football star.

"That period was like hell for me.”

“I can't count how many thoughts ran through my head. One time I was thinking that football was no longer favourable to me so I should quit, but then I knew football was the only thing that made me happy and I couldn't imagine life without it; so I began to think that life in itself was no longer fair to me so maybe I should just die." Alalade admitted.

THE EARLY RISE OF A BUDDING CAREER

Like most Nigerian footballers, Alalade started out playing in the streets and in local competitions. But once he turned pro, his career took a fast leap that culminated in signing for Nigeria's biggest club, Enyimba FC, at just 18. It was a move that brought him fulfillment and sparked hope for the future.

"Enyimba is like the Real Madrid or Juventus of Nigeria, so signing for them was a dream come true for me. I couldn't believe that so soon in my career I would be playing for one of the biggest clubs in Africa."

Apart from signing for the two-time African champions, there was yet another dream that would quickly come true in his quick career rise - the dream of representing his country. The fast forward was called up to the Nigeria U20 team, The Flying Eagles, for the 2019 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (Niger 2019) qualifications series. Elated as he was over the invitation, the striker could already see a bigger picture than the African Championship - the World Cup.

"When the invitation from the national team came, I wasn't expecting it so I can say it was a surprise. But from that time I began to think big. I began to see myself playing at the African Championship and playing at the World Cup. The junior World Cup is every young player's dream, so I saw it as an opportunity to get to the next level of my career and become an international star."

Not merely dreaming of becoming an international star, Alalade was also working hard to take his chance by the horn. He scored three goals in four matches to help the Flying Eagles qualify for Niger, leaving him as the team's top scorer, and by extension, one of the more significant figures in coach Paul Aigbogun's side.

HOW THINGS FELL APART

Alalade’s sparkling performances with the team, coupled with his soaring reputation as one of Nigeria’s brightest prospects, led him to be tipped as the player to lead the country’s lines at the U20 AFCON. Sadly for him though, it was never to be as he was shockingly left out of the final squad for the tournament in Niger - a setback the striker could only accept in good fate.

"I was the team's highest goalscorer so everyone was surprised when I got dropped. My father cried bitterly because of it. Even me, I couldn't believe it myself because even in the friendly matches before the AFCON, I scored in almost every game. There were games I scored two or three goals. I thought I did enough to merit a place in the squad, but I had to respect the coach's decision."

Part of Alalade’s biggest regrets for missing out on the team was that he had hinged most of his hopes of attracting a European club to his performance with the U20s.

"Before I was dropped, I had offers from clubs in Europe but I didn't listen so much because I believed I would attract better offers if I performed well with the U20, especially at the World Cup. My hope was around the World Cup. I expected it to shoot me to the next level of my career, but since I was dropped for the AFCON, there was almost no hope that I would be considered for the World Cup again."

A RAY OF HOPE, THEN ANOTHER UGLY TWIST

Sulking in the disappointment of being left out of Niger 2019, Alalade returned to Enyimba, but it didn't take long before a silver lining appeared, as the forward received an invitation to Nigeria's U-23 team that was preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers.

"I saw it that God was using this one to compensate me for the disappointment of the U20," the forward recalls.

"I also saw it as a bigger platform because if we qualified, I could be playing at the Olympics, the biggest sports competition in the world. That made me want to give two hundred percent."

Unfortunately, Alalade's dreams of playing at the Olympics ended even sooner than they began as he sustained what turned out to be a career-threatening injury in one of the team’s training sessions.

"I was face to face with the keeper in training so I decided to round him, but he raised his leg and it caught my shin. That was it. Initially, I thought it was a minor thing, but when I saw the doctor, he told me there was a fracture and I would be out for some months."

Alalade was fully aware of how the injury could hamper his chances with the team. Also knowing how heartbroken the disappointment of the U20s left his father, the striker feared his old man would not be able to cope with news of his latest setback, so he decided to hide it from him. But somehow, his dad heard the shocking story on the radio, and true to his fears, slumped in shock.

“My plan was to hide the injury from my father because he was really passionate about my career and I knew he wouldn't be able to handle it. I can say he was more passionate than me because when I was dropped from the U20, he cried more than me... But some days later, he heard it on a radio sports show and that was it. He had a serious heart attack and was quickly taken to the hospital.

"I couldn't visit him in the hospital because the injury wouldn't let me walk, but we always spoke on the phone. Whenever I phoned him, he was more concerned about my career than his own health. He always worried about the injury and if I could ever play again. I've never seen a father like that who would do everything to make his son succeed.

"Sometimes, just to make him happy, I would make short videos of myself with a ball and send it to him, because I knew it would give him the hope that I would soon be able to play again. He just wanted to see me play football.

"We tried our best for him to recover, but after some time, I got a call from my brother to inform me that my dad just died. That was like the worst day of my life! It felt like I killed my dad because it was the worry over my career that got him sick in the first place. When the U23 head coach, Imama Amapakabo, heard about the tragic story, he was so touched that he offered to pay for my flight ticket home."

SUPPORT IN TOUGH TIMES

Alalade admitted that the demise of his father made him rethink his future in the game.

“My Dad's death left me totally depressed and I wasn't thinking of football anymore, but I'm grateful to God for the kind of family I have. They were always by my side, to let me know everything would be okay. They encouraged me and made me see that the only way I could honour my father in death was by overcoming the injury and achieving the dreams that he had for my career."

After spending months mourning his dad and treating his injury, Alalade returned to train with the U23 team, but still felt pain in his leg and was told by the doctor that he would require special surgery. It was at that point he met someone he simply refers to as a ‘good Samaritan’.

“When I complained to the doctor that I still felt pains, he told me that I needed surgery to correct it. The surgery was quite expensive and I didn’t have such money because I had already spent up the money I had on my dad’s hospital bills and burial. I was stranded, but fortunately for me, I met someone who offered to pay for it.

“I like to call him the good Samaritan because I didn't know him from anywhere. He said he watched me play for the U20 and didn't want to allow my career to end like that. He offered to sponsor my surgery in one of the best hospitals in Argentina and paid for everything.”

Staying thousands of miles away from his family and taking another extended break from football, Alalade used his treatment period in Argentina to have a sober reflection and soon began to see his struggles in a different light.

“I looked back at everything and can say that period was like a life school for me. I learned to be dogged and never to give up on my dreams because good things don't come easy. And considering where I come from, a place where nothing comes easy and you have to struggle for everything, I think it is very important to learn not to give up.”

HOPING TO INSPIRE THE YOUTH

“I will be happy if my story can inspire young footballers in Nigeria. Since there are no good structures there, young footballers go through a lot of struggles to make it in their careers. Some of them have to play on empty stomachs, some of them have no place to stay; so I’m really hoping that they can also learn not to give up on their dreams whatever the challenge.”

After five months of treatment in Buenos Aires, Alalade recovered fully and could play without pain. His recovery however coincided with the period that the Argentine government imposed travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, so the forward could not return to Nigeria but spent another seven months in Buenos Aires, during which he trained with local sides as he prepared for a comeback to the game.

Right now, Alalade's priority is to give his story a happy end - an end that culminates in the achievement of his lifelong dream of becoming an 'international star'. As a result the forward, who is now a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Enyimba, is leaving no stone unturned in doing his due diligence before deciding on his next move.

"For me, the decision on my next move may be the most important decision in my career," Alalade noted.

"When you look at footballers who were out of the game for long, their comeback season always goes a long way in determining the rest of their careers. That's why I don't want to joke with mine. What would be the point going through everything I faced if I cannot come back and achieve all my dreams? For me that's the most important thing right now.

"That is why I want to avoid any mistake in my next move. I've been contacted by some clubs already, but I won't hurry into anything. I will listen to my heart and go to a place that will help me get back to track and achieve my dreams."

Top 10 Largest Football Stadiums in Africa

10. Abuja National Stadium (Moshood Abiola National Stadium)

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Opened: 2003
Capacity: 60,491
Record Attendance: Unknown
Tenants: Domestic League, Nigeria National Team

The stadium was inaugurated with a match between Nigerian rivals Shooting Stars and Sunshine Stars. The stadium is also the host to many religious event. In 2006 the President notoriously decided to hold a religious event instead of an international match between Nigeria and Rwanda. The stadium was the most expensive stadium upon completion in 2003.

9. Ellis Park Stadium

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Opened: 1928
Capacity: 62,567
Record Attendance: 55,686 (Argentina vs Nigeria 2010 FIFA World Cup)
Tenants: Rugby

Mainly used for Rugby matches, the stadium hosted numerous matches during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup (including the final) and 2010 FIFA World Cup after a renovation and expansion in 2009. The stadium was the site of the Ellis Park Stadium disaster of 11 April 2001, when 43 fans lost their lives during a stampede at a match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

8. Stade du 5 Juillet 1962

Location: Algiers, Algeria
Opened: 1972
Capacity: 64,000
Record Attendance: 110,000 (Algeria vs Serbia 2010)
Tenants: MC Alger, Algeria National Team

Named after Algeria’s Independence Day (5 July), the stadium was inaugurated with a tournament that featured the Arab Maghreb, AC Milan, Hungary and Palmeiras.

7. Tripoli International Olympic Stadium

Location: Tripoli, Libya
Opened: 1970
Capacity: 65,000
Record Attendance: 80,000 (Ghana vs Libya 1982 AFCON Final)
Tenants: Libya National Team, Al Ahli Tripoli, Al Ittihad Tripoli, Al Madina

Known as “Africa’s Graveyard”, the stadium famously hosted the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations final between Ghana and Libya. It was also interestingly the host of the 2002 Italian Super Cup.

6. Mohammed V Stadium

Location: Casablanca, Morocco
Opened: 1955
Capacity: 67,000
Record Attendance: 100,000 (Raja - Wydad, 1997)
Tenants: Raja Casablanca, Wydad Casablanca, Morocco National Team

Built in 1955, the stadium was renamed Stade D’honneur after Morocco’s independence the following year. It was renovated in 2015.

5. Cairo International Stadium

Location: Cairo, Egypt
Opened: 1960
Capacity: 75,000
Record Attendance: 120,000 (Egypt vs Cameroon 1986 AFCON Final)
Tenants: Al Ahly, Zamalek, Egypt National Team

Cairo international Stadium was notoriously known for being able to fit more people than intended before seats were added to all sections in 2005. It is known for hosting Egypt’s most important matches, including the Cairo Derby. The stadium underwent major renovations in 2005 and 2019 in preparation for hosting the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments the following years.

4. National Sports Stadium

Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Opened: 1987
Capacity: 80,000
Record Attendance: Unknown
Tenants: Caps United, Zimbabwe National Team

Financed by the Chinese government under the presidency of Robert Mugabe, the Harare stadium held the 6th All-Africa games in 1995. It was also the site of former dictator Robert Mugabe’s funeral. The stadium was reportedly filled to capacity in 2012 and 2014 for services by Zimbabwean pastor Emmanuel Makandiwa.

3. Stade des Martyrs

Location: Kinshasa, DR Congo
Opened: 1994
Capacity: 80,000 (reportedly can fit up to 125,000 people)
Record Attendance: 100,000
Tenants: AS Vita, DR Congo National Team

Built under the reign of President Mobutu Sese Seko with the name Stade Kamanyola from 1988 to 1994. After the dictator was removed from power, the stadium was renamed to Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte (Martyrs of Pentecost Stadium).

2. Borg El Arab

Location: Alexandria, Egypt
Opened: 2009
Capacity: 86,000
Record Attendance: 86,000 (Egypt vs Congo 2017)
Tenants: Egypt National Team

Originally commissioned as part of an ambitious 5 international-standard stadiums project for Egypt's bid to host the World Cup, the stadium became the home stadium for the Egyptian National Team alongside Cairo International Stadium. It has been described by some FIFA members as an identical copy of the State de France in Paris.

1. FNB Stadium (Soccer City)

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Opened: 1989
Capacity: 94,736
Record Attendance: 94,807 (Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates)
Tenants: Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa National Team

Renovated and expanded for the 2010 World Cup, Soccer City hosted the 2010 World Cup Final. The stadium was also the site of Nelson Mandela’s first speech after his release from prison in 1990 and memorial service.

Have you been to any of these stadiums? Let us know on social media.