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With the 32nd African Cup of Nations, the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League in particular, the best players on the African continent shone brightly in 2019. Back to the great year of Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mané, André Onana , Nicolas Pépé and Mohamed Salah.
►Riyad Mahrez
It was as written, this purpose. " My most important goal in selection, " said Riyad Mahrez to RFI. In the 90 + 5th in the CAN 2019 semi-final, Algeria and Nigeria draw 1-1 when the Fennecs get a free kick at the entrance to the area. The wall of the Super Eagles is offset and the captain sees the opening. Riyad Mahrez does not ask questions and sends a missile right into the skylight of Daniel Akpeyi. With this masterful direct free kick, Algeria wins (2-1) and is only one step away from the title.
And if he is not among the incontrovertible holders in Manchester City, the attacking midfielder still had its role to play in the coronation of the Cityzens in the Premier League. On the last day, and while Liverpool put the pressure at a distance, Riyad Mahrez allowed City to endorse the coronation by scoring a goal and giving an assist against Brighton (4-1).
► Sadio Mané
It is an understatement to say that 4th place for the Lion of Teranga at the Ballon d'Or has been the talk . How could Sadio Mané not be invited to the podium? So decided voters around the world, despite the breathtaking season of the Senegalese . Co-top scorer in the Premier League tied with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool striker has become one of the most decisive and essential players in Europe. If the Reds won their 6th Champions League, they owe it largely to their inexhaustible number 10.
The only downsides for Mané: his two failures from the penalty spot during the CAN and this defeat in the final against Algeria. The curse that prevents Senegal from winning any international competition continues, but with the ex-Messin, its action may soon end.
► André Onana
The level of African goalkeepers has been criticized enough to appreciate a talent like that of André Onana . At the heart of Ajax Amsterdam's exploits in the Champions League against Real Madrid and Juventus Turin was the 23-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper. Trained at FC Barcelona, the Indomitable Lion rose through the ranks at Ajax to finally burst out in the eyes of all of Europe in 2019. PSG had taken an interest in him in the summer of 2018 before opting for Gianluigi Buffon; history shows that Paris might have been wiser to insist on André Onana.
A darling of the Dutch public who sings his name loudly, the international remained in the Amsterdam club for the 2019-2020 season. But he is aware that, in a few months, it will be time for this generation of Ajacids (Donny van de Beek, Hakim Ziyech ...) to leave the nest as Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt have already done. And there, there should be good clubs interested in Onana's services.
► Nicolas Pépé
After a difficult start in Lille, Nicolas Pépé started to show some of his abilities at the end of last season. During the 2018-2019 fiscal year, its full potential exploded with the Mastiffs. With his ball handling and speed, the Ivory Coast winger had a spectacular season with 23 goals and 12 assists in just 41 games. By the way, he won the Marc-Vivien Foé Prize . The heart of European football was at its feet in the summer transfer window and it was Arsenal which spent 80 million euros (record sum for the club) to afford the services of the vice-champion of France.
However, in a destabilized team, with no real game plan and which recently dismissed coach Unai Emery, the first months were delicate for Pépé. " My beginnings were not easy, you have to tell the truth, " admitted the Elephant to RMC Sport's microphone. But he promises that his determination is always total. And if the previous Lille repeat, the Gunners will quickly find a smile with the number 19, which also seeks its place with the selection of Ivory Coast.
► Mohamed Salah
Statistically, the Mohamed Salah of 2018-2019 is my flashy that the untenable of 2017-2018 (27 goals and 12 assists against 44 goals and 16 assists with Liverpool, all competitions combined). And yet, the Egyptian has finally garnished his collective trophy cupboard this year, which had not happened to him since his departure from FC Basel in 2014. Often placed, but never titled in 2018 with in particular a lost Champions League final against Real Madrid and as a bonus a dirty injury to the left shoulder, the Pharaoh took his revenge this time lifting the Cup with big ears with this victory against Tottenham (2-0). A final very well launched thanks to a penalty obtained by Sadio Mané and transformed with composure by his sidekick Mohamed Salah.
Co-top scorer in the Premier League, the 27-year-old striker has a blast in Liverpool and actively participates in the Reds' phenomenal Premier League journey for the hour. Will he still be a main player in a possible title of champion of England which the Mersey club has dreamed of for 30 years?