How Africa Changed the Premier League

Yaya Toure’s Ivory Coast failed to make it out of the group of death, finishing behind Brazil and Portugal, but the Barcelona midfielder would end the summer by starting a new challenge at Manchester City.

“I wanted to be something unique. Barcelona were already the best club in the world. Chelsea were interested but they had already won a lot of trophies," said Toure.

“I wanted to become a legend. Getting to Man City was spot on as my brother was there, Adebayor was there, my idol Patrick Vieira was there."

And a legend, did Yaya become. In his first season, Toure scored the winning goal at Wembley to win City's first trophy in 35 years against Stoke in the FA Cup final.

In his second, the African Player of The Year was vital in Man City's midfield as they would win their first Premier League title.

Two more league titles would follow for Toure in England.

“There was a lot of speculation, people were talking about Manchester United and Chelsea. But I called Yaya and said this is a place where you can leave a legacy,” said Kolo Toure.

"As an older brother you always want to look after your brother. I knew what he was going to bring to that club.

"To win that trophy together was unbelievable."

Vincent Kompany joined Man City two seasons before Toure and left the season after the Ivorian. In the 2013/14 season he witnessed his midfield teammate score 20 Premier League goals, only the second midfielder to achieve the feat after Frank Lampard.

"He was very important for us as a club at the stage we were in. He scored in most of the big moments I remember," said Kompany.

"He's good at receiving the ball, he's got speed, he can run in behind, he could find a pass like David Silva.

"He could finish from inside or outside the box, anything he set his mind to he could do it. He had no weaknesses."

"It's been a brilliant career, full of success, trophies and individual honours. I couldn't ask for more," said Toure.

"Some players when they retire, they think they should carry on more to get trophies. But I was relieved. Because when I look back, my pathway was incredible.

"Hard work, dedication, sacrifice, the journey was impressive."

Wilfried Zaha's 68 goals puts him fifth in the rankings of goals scored by African players in the Premier League since the start of the 2010/11 season.

Born in the Ivory Coast, Zaha moved to Croydon aged four joining the Crystal Palace academy at eight.

Although a move to Manchester United in 2013 didn't go to plan, Zaha's return to Palace saw him regularly seen as one of the best performers outside of the traditional big clubs.

Zaha had played for England at youth level and the senior call up came in 2012.

Zaha played two friendlies for them between 2012-2013 before choosing to represent Ivory Coast in 2017.

"It felt right and I'm full of pride to play for Ivory Coast," said Zaha.

"There was a few conversations I had with Ivory Coast and obviously I spoke to my parents about it.

"I'd been back quite a few times and the support I had over there from the whole country was amazing. It made a difference to me."

Playing for Ivory Coast meant that Zaha could emulate one of his idols, Didier Drogba.

And the former Chelsea striker spoke to Zaha about his decision to represent the country of his birth.

"That is a long time ago that conversation!" said Zaha.

"He's an icon, playing for Chelsea and Ivory Coast. It was nice speaking to him but it was my decision.

"We all go our own paths so I was never going to be influenced by someone ringing me and telling me 'come and play'.

"That person isn't going to be holding my hand while I'm going through every experience. So it's nice getting a phone call but that was my decision."

For anyone of dual heritage, the decision of who to represent internationally can be a tough decision.

Players such as Alex Iwobi (Nigera), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) and Tariq Lamptey (Ghana) represented England at youth level before deciding to play for teams of their heritage at senior level.

"When I broke into Arsenal's first team I started to see on social media Nigerians saying I was one of their own," said Iwobi.

"You become one of their superheroes."

Representing the country you were raised in versus the country your parents are from and where your heritage lies can bring an emotional choice into play.

Other sports like rugby union, cricket and netball have more relaxed rules regarding switching nationalities, meaning the decision in football is a significant one.

France, like England, is made up of a multicultural society and sees many footballers of dual heritage making decisions on who they will represent.

Players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kalidou Koulibaly could have represented France but cited making their families proud in their decisions to represent Gabon and Senegal.

And the same goes for Africa's player with the most Premier League medals.

Riyad Mahrez set the Premier League alight during the 2015/16 season, a campaign that would go down in history as one of the most remarkable stories in football.

Under Claudio Ranieri's leadership, Leicester City defied all odds to clinch the Premier League title, and Mahrez was at the heart of their fairytale run, after signing from French side Le Havre in 2014.

Mahrez's individual brilliance was on full display as he contributed crucial goals, assists, and moments of magic that propelled Leicester to unimaginable heights.

Born in the suburbs of Paris to an Algerian father and Moroccan mother, his father died when Mahrez was 15.

Holidaying in Algeria regularly during his youth, Mahrez has previously described his heart as Algerian.

His partnership with Jamie Vardy and his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations made him an integral part of Leicester City's title-winning squad.

Mahrez's performances earned him the PFA Players' Player of the Year award for the season, the first African to win the accolade, solidifying his status as one of the league's brightest talents.

“Even for a slight lad, in matches and training you could just never get the ball off him. He’d just do some mad flip flap and be away,” said Jamie Vardy

“He’d do six chops in the corner after you’d made five different runs. But then all of a sudden he’d whip it in himself.”

Mahrez himself was fully aware of the waves his season was making in Algeria, as Leicester went on to pull off the famous 5000/1 shot.

"All the cafes and restaurants were full to watch the Premier League," said Mahrez.

In 2018, Mahrez got his move to Manchester City for a then club-record £60m, making him Africa's most expensive player alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

"Even in the whole of Africa not just in Algeria, when I travel to play against African teams, all the countries when I visit there are so welcoming and supporting of me, it's incredible," said Mahrez.

"That's what we are doing it for. We are doing it for Algeria, my country and for Africa, my continent.

"To make them proud and happy. And to make them believe they can do it as well.

"You can't imagine unless you go there and see, the way Africa loves football, it's a continent of football. You need to go to realise how much football is loved."

He would go on to win four more Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola and the Champions League.

“You can tell from day one if a player is special, but to follow through and become that player, you tell with time," said his former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.

"So many players who have that something special haven’t done what he’s done.

“He could paint with his left foot, it was truly incredible.”

"When people remember this Man City team, they will remember Riyad Mahrez," said Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

"His quality was his exceptional left foot. He was one of the greatest wingers Manchester City and the Premier League has ever seen."

The only reason Mahrez didn't leave the Premier League for Saudi Arabia with six league titles instead of five, was because of Liverpool in 2019/20.

And two African players played starring roles.

Salah & Mane

In the footballing realm, partnerships often define eras, and few duos have captured the collective imagination like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at Liverpool.

The Egyptian and Senegalese forwards forged a prolific frontline alongside Roberto Firmino, steering Liverpool to domestic and European glory.

Salah joined Liverpool in 2017 from Roma, while Mane made the move from Southampton in 2016.

Both signings signalled Jurgen Klopp's intent to build a formidable attacking force, and the duo quickly adapted to Liverpool's high-pressing, fast-paced style of play.

 “I always had in my mind I would love to play in the Premier League and I’m glad it happened,” said Mohamed Salah.

“It makes me so proud to be the highest scoring African player in the Premier League.

"When I broke Didier’s record, I was so happy because I played with him and know how good he is. He was more of a striker than me.

“I’m going to work hard to keep the gap between me and the ones that are coming. Because for sure they are going to come.”

It is easy to forget we had seen Salah play in the Premier League before he lit up Liverpool.

A move from Basel to Chelsea in 2014 saw him rarely used by Jose Mourinho. And although Chelsea won the league during his spell at the club, his three appearances were not enough for him to receive a winner's medal.

This was not a put-off for Klopp, who saw his subsequent form at Fiorentina and Roma as enough to give him a second chance in England.

"We knew we had an offensive player but we had no idea how good he could be and Mo had no idea how good he could be," said Klopp.

"In that time he grew into a man that became more important off the pitch. You don't see the stats for that but it's just as important.

"I'm really happy to have been a part of the period when he was here because it's been special.

"He can play for another ten years. He puts so much effort in. It's special."

In a Premier League period where Man City's dominance is clear for all to see, Salah and Mane fired Liverpool to their first Premier League title in the 2019/20 season and The Reds' first league title in thirty years.

Salah's 19 goals and Mane's 18 fired Liverpool to 99 points, after missing out the season before with 97.

“Sadio and Mo, they put their part in the history of Liverpool forever. It was amazing to see them playing together,” said Joel Matip, also part of that title-winning side.

“Mo, what he delivers for the team, the assists and the space he makes, the goals he scores is so amazing.

“They achieved a lot but these two especially were always the first in the gym and always wanted to get better and better.”

Firmino was the third musketeer in a trio of Liverpool attackers that would often see Divock Origi fill in between Mane and Salah.

It was love at first sight for the striker with Mane.

"Sadio, the impact he had straight away, the first training session was electric," said Origi.

"His work rate, how much he sacrificed to be at the top level. He could play anywhere and do anything. He's a warrior."

Mane has given back to Africa and Senegal. The forward has previously gone on record about the monthly contributions from his wages to a poor region in Senegal and his buildings of schools and facilities in his home country are well documented.

Adam Lallana played in midfield behind Mane and Salah during his seven years at Liverpool.

"Sadio was everything to Liverpool's success," said Lallana.

"If you put balls into space for Sadio he'd made it work. The way he defended and pressed the ball, he was the full package.

"It was one of the lucky moments when we got him in."

Mane has since moved on to Germany and Saudi Arabia, but is certainly not forgotten by his old manager.

"When a player scores two or three times against you, you start to notice. Normally you don't watch the other players. That's what Sadio did," said Klopp.

"We needed speed, technique and goal threat. Sadio had all that."