Top Footballers From Central Africa

Central Africa is home to countries like Cape Verde, Gabon, Cameroon, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the  Congo, Republic of the Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea &  Sao Tome and Principe.

So, who are the top Footballer from Central African region?

1. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon

One man has been in the business of putting Gabon on the world map for the best part of the last decade, his name? AUBAMEYANG.

The 31-year-old Arsenal forward was the top goal scorer in the 2018/2019 Premier League season scoring 22 goals for the Unai Emery’s side, adding a further 8 goals in the Europa League.

He is in contention for the 2019/2020 Premier League Golden Boot Award having claimed the same award whilst playing for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga in the 2016/2017 season. 

Aubameyang is a proven goal scorer that can play on the flanks and through the middle.

He is pacy and known for his quality finishes.

While playing for Saint-Étienne, he won the Coupe de la Ligue in the 2012/2013 season, and with Borussia Dortmund, Aubameyang won the DFB-Pokal in the 2016/2017 season, while also winning the DFL-Supercup in  2013 &  2014.

With his current club, Arsenal, the Gabonese captain finished as an EFL Cup runner-up during the 2017/18 season and as runners up again in the UEFA Europa League in the 2018/19 campaign.

He was named the 2015 CAF African footballer of the year award winner, and he is the all-time highest goal scorer for Gabon. Aubameyang has been named in the African team of the year by CAF Six times.

2. Andre Onana – Cameroon

The Ajax Shotstopper has been highly sought after by Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Arsenal commanding an astounding 50 million Euros transfer fee, which is quite a big deal for a goalkeeper. He was one of the shining lights of the Ajax side that got to the semi-finals of the 2018/2019 Champions League season while helping the Dutch side to many domestic trophies. He has quick reflexes and stands at 6 feet and three inches.

Onana won the Eredivisie with Ajax in the  2018/2019 season as well as winning the KNVB Cup in 2018/2019. The Cameroonian also won the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2019 and was a runner up in  UEFA Europa League: runners-up 2016/2017

At just 24 years old, he is arguably the best goalkeeper from Africa and was named in the CAF team of the year in 2019 and is set to dominate European football for the next decade.

3. Andre Anguissa – Cameroon

One man has been mopping up the midfield for a Villarreal side-firing all cylinders and looking to make it to the 2020/2021 champions league group stage, and it’s not Santi Cazorla, but Andre Anguissa.

He is a silent worker in the middle of the park that does his work effectively and efficiently without trying to showboat. Anguissa is a tireless worker, and he connects Villarreal’s defense with the midfield as well as the attack. He is simply the coordinator of the team.

He is often compared to greats of the game like Sergio Busquests and Patrick Vieira.

4. Trésor Mputu Mabi-Mputu – DR Congo

A certified legend on this list, he joined TP Mazembe in 2002 and has been a pivotal figure in the club’s success ever since. In 2007, he helped his club reach the African Champions League by becoming the top goalscorer of the competition with nine strikes, and the Confederation Cup.

In 2009 and 2010, he captained Mazembe to back to back CAF Champions League titles. 

Mputu was named Glo-CAF’s Best African Player on the continent in 2009 & was the IFFHS World’s Top Goal Scorer of the Year in 2007 

At the African Nations Championship in 2009, he was named  player of the tournament.

In 2009, he was nominated for BBC African Footballer of the Year

5. Jean Kasusula – DR Congo

Highly experienced player made over 250 appearances for TP Mazembe and made his mark in African football.

He won the Vodacom Ligue 1 on ten occasions while recording success in the Congo Super Cup three times.

He was a three-time Caf Champions League winner and two-time Confederation Cup champion.

6. Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon

2017 African cup of Nations winner with Cameroon earns his spot on this list due to his performances for F.C Porto and his country.

It’s not an easy task to replace the legendary Samuel Eto’o Fils, however, The bulky Aboubakar has done his bits for his country triumphing at the grandest stages on the continental level, the AFRICAN Cup of Nations. Aboubakar scored an 88th-minute goal in the final against African powerhouse Egypt to hand Cameroon a comeback 2–1 victory ending his nation’s 15-year wait for a continental crown.

He was part of the Cameroonian squad at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. He scored a consolation goal in their 3–1 loss to world champions Germany.

With Coton Sport, he won the Cameroon Premiere Division in the  2009/10 season, 

And with Beşiktaş, he won the Süper Lig during the 2016/17 season. 

 With Porto, he won the Primeira Liga in the  2017/18 season & the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in 2018.

7. Cédric Bakambu – DR Congo

Bakambu plays  for Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan and the DR Congo national team

Born in France, & he represented Les Blues internationally at youth level up to the under-20s.

He  won the 2010 UEFA European Championship for the under-19s. In 2015, he made his senior debut for the DR Congo national team.

He started and scored the winner in a 1–0 victory against Liberia that secured DR Congo’s qualification to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

At Chinese outfit, Beijing Guoan, Bakambu won the Chinese FA Cup in  2018. He made his mark for Villarreal, where he scored 32 goals in 75 appearances in three years. This feat led his team to the Europa League team of the season.

plays for Henan Jianye in the Chinese Super League as a winger or forward

8. Karl Toko Ekambi – Cameroon

He plays as a forward for Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais.

Ekambi also played for Sochaux, Angers & Villarreal. On 2 June 2020, Lyon confirmed that Toko Ekambi would complete a permanent transfer to the club for a fee of 11.5 million euros. Yet, he continues to attract offers from other top European clubs.

9. Yannick Bolasie – DR Congo

Perhaps the most skillful player on this list, Bolasie currently plays for Sporting CP in Portugal on loan from Everton. Bolasie was selected to the Congolese squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea as his country finished in third place. The midfielder has also made his mark in the Premier League; with his skills and tricks on display for Everton and Crystal Palace.

10. Mario René Junior Lemina – Gabon

Lemina is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Galatasaray on loan from Premier League club Southampton and the Gabon national team. He started his career with Lorient, and has played for clubs like Marseille and Juventus.

Lemina won four major trophies with Juventus. He won the Italian Serie A twice; in the 2015/2016 season and the 2016/2017 seasons. Also taking home the Coppa Italia in the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS;

Christian Bassogog – Cameroon

He was named the best player of the 2017 African cup of Nations held in Gabon in 2017. Bassogog helped a less fancied indomitable Lions of Cameroon to a precious triumph.

Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting(Cameroon)- Chupo Moting plays for French Powerhouse PSG and the Cameroonian National team.

The lanky forward is the backup option to a PSG side that parades world-class talents like Mbappe, Cavani, and Neymar. Bassogog played a part in winning the French Ligue 1 back to back in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons.