How Africa Changed the Premier League

So how did Africa change the Premier League? Well let's start from the beginning.

Before pre-season tours of the USA, Australia and South-East Asia were the norm, commonwealth countries offered a solid option of where to get fit for Premier League teams.

Zimbabwe was still part of the commonwealth in the '90s, and where the Premier League’s first African player would hail from.

After several teams toured the South-African country in the summer of 1991, a skinny young winger was grabbing attention in Bulawayo.

“During my holidays back in Zimbabwe, my friends would be telling me about this player," said Ndlovu’s former agent Winston Makamure.

"Man City came, Coventry came, and they played against Highlanders and the Zimbabwe national team. Peter roasted them and did very well.

"Clubs wanted Peter and his brother Adam. I think Manchester United were interested but Coventry and John Sillet moved very quickly and took Peter."

So Ndlovu joined Coventry in 1991, and became the Premier League’s first African player in 1992. In the previous 10 years, eight African players had played in England's top league.

Ndlovu settled on the pitch, but off it, it took time.

"It was not easy. It wasn't easy coming from Bulawayo. He was very young and wasn't ready to be a celebrity and that made it difficult to settle," said Makamure

"The people of Coventry were so nice to him, especially the couple he stayed with originally. They would take him to all sorts, even school events with their kids!

"Peter became a huge star because of the Premier League. When South Africa became independent in 1994 they'd invite Zimbabwe over for matches, and if Peter wasn't part of the team, Zimbabwe wouldn't get paid as much.

“We would go to Cameroon, Ghana, and as soon as we stepped off the plane reporters were there for Peter."

Although Ndlovu took time to settle off the pitch, on the pitch he was starring.

A hat-trick at Anfield was a highlight for Ndlovu in a season where Coventry saw themselves at lofty heights in the table before petering off.

"We can look back now and see how critical Peter's success in England was for future African players. Clubs would get hold of me to say please, we want to get players for trials," said Makamure.

"So there was a time I was sending players over for trials, but we didn’t have many successful from Zimbabwe. But clubs started to pay attention to Africa because of Peter."

Ndlovu's goals, skill, and pace certainly did make the Premier League take notice. But two years later, a man from neighbouring South Africa would make first steps into becoming a Yorkshire legend.

Tony Yeboah arrived at Leeds United in 1995, making an immediate impact with his explosive style of play and clinical finishing.

Signed again by Wilkinson, Yeboah became the first Ghanaian player to grace the Premier League and wasted no time in making history.

“We had seen what he was doing in Germany mainly through the television," said Wilkinson.

"It was a slightly different transfer to Lucas because he came from Germany."

What truly defined Yeboah's stint at Leeds was his ability to score sensational goals. His thunderous strikes from distance and acrobatic finishes became the stuff of legend.

One goal that stands out is his iconic strike against Liverpool at Elland Road in 1995. Controlling a lofted ball with his chest, Yeboah unleashed a ferocious volley into the top corner, a goal that has been replayed countless times and is considered one of the greatest in Premier League history.

"Most of Tony's goals were pure. It’' what he did. He's capable of the one from one yard and one from 30. In terms of scoring goals, his golf bag was full of every club," said Wilkinson.

Wilkinson's side contained three out of 11 African players in the Premier League over the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons and is proud of the part he played in the history of African players in the league.

"Seeing is believing. Perhaps in the past, in the process of signing a player, there was someone who was involved in that process who pigeonholed players by virtue of their colour or nationality, Tony showed you can't do that.

"He had the ability, the talent and most importantly the character."

Liberia have only had three players play in the Premier League. Nevertheless, the first won the league in his debut season and the second was a Ballon d'Or winner who would later go onto become President of the country.

Christopher Wreh joined Arsenal in 1997, signed by then-manager Arsene Wenger, who was beginning to make his mark on English football. Wreh arrived with promise and potential, and little did fans know that he would soon become a crucial part of the Gunners' squad.

Wreh's most significant contribution came during the 1997/98 season, a historic campaign for Arsenal in which they secured the Premier League title and the FA Cup.

While Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka and Ian Wright are often the names associated with Arsenal's attacking prowess of that season, Wreh played a vital supporting role.

Between 1989 and 2003, civil war consumed the small West African nation of Liberia, resulting in the estimated deaths of 150,000 to 250,000 men, women and children, and the displacement of over half the country's population.

Wreh had moved to Monaco in 1989 but had grown up in the instability of the country.

"Arsene Wenger called me from our time at Monaco. He wanted me as the fourth striker at Arsenal," said Wreh.

"To come from growing up in a country with war in Liberia to winning the title makes me very proud."

Wreh's impact was highlighted in key moments throughout the season. One of the standout instances was his goal against Wolves in the FA Cup semi-final.

Perhaps Wreh's most memorable moments came in the league, where he scored the decisive goals against Wimbledon and Bolton. In a crucial fixtures as Arsenal chased the title, Wreh's goals secured victories contributing immensely to their league triumph.

Nwankwo Kanu joined Arsenal in 1999, signing from Inter Milan. Kanu's skilful play and distinctive physique immediately set him apart, offering a different dimension to Arsenal's attacking prowess.

"Coming from Africa, you are representing Africa," said Kanu.

"Doing well, you are going to open doors for other African players to come here – I always carried this in my mind. It’s not always easy to make it from Africa."

The Nigerian had won Olympic Gold in 1996 in Atlanta, scoring twice in the semi-final against a Brazil side containing Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Dida.

Future Premier League player Celestine Babayaro and Daniel Amokachi, who had just left Everton, scored in the final as Nigeria beat Argentina 3-2.

Kanu's impact at Arsenal is perhaps best encapsulated by his penchant for scoring memorable and crucial goals.

The striker would go onto win two Premier League titles and FA Cups at Arsenal, while also winning an FA Cup for Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth.

One of the standout moments in his Arsenal career came during the 1999/2000 season when he scored a stunning hat-trick against Chelsea as Arsenal were losing 2-0.