The Premier League is probably the most popular league in the world and the one all footballers dream of playing in at some point in their career. The football is fast and the league is highly competitive. A player has to be at the very top of their game (or close to it) to succeed in it. It’s why the league’s teams are home to some of the very finest players in the world. That includes players from Africa, of course.

It’s not just football fans who follow the Premier League, though. Sports betting fans also like to keep up with the news and developments in the league so they can place a suitable wager on games. Who will be the first to score in a game? Will Mo Salah break a scoring record? Who will win the league title?

Several African players have contributed to the excitement the Premier League offers. Below is a look at some of the best African players to have ever set foot on of the league’s football pitches.

Mo Salah

Egyptian striker Mo Salah joined Liverpool for the 2017/18 season onwards from Chelsea. He’s been a champion with the team once, tasting league title glory at the end of the 2019/20 season.

Salah has been nothing short of prolific for the Anfielders and has become a firm favorite with the fans. Recently, he trumped Robbie Fowler’s Premier League goals record and became the club’s top scoring player in the division, hitting 129 goals in the team’s seven-goal rout against Manchester United.

His achievements don’t end there though. While at the club, he’s won the Golden Boot award three times and Player of the Season once. He also has two Goal of the Month accolades and one Goal of the Season to his name.

Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba, from the Ivory Coast, began terrorizing defenses for Chelsea in the 2004/05 and helped them to their first league title in 50 years. A year later, Chelsea lifted the Premier League title again with Drogba on their team. All in all, he’s lifted the title four times with the club. He’s also received the Golden Boot award twice.

The Ivory Coast man spent six months with Chinese side Shanghai Shenua in 2012 and then one-and-a-half seasons with Turkish side Galatasaray before returning to the London side for the 2014/15 one. This was only after putting the ball in the back of the net from the penalty spot for Chelsea to bring home the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2012. It was also after lifting the FA Cup in the final against Liverpool in 2012.

As if all this isn’t enough, Drogba also goes down in African sporting history as the first player to score 100 goals in the Premiership. A truly special player.

Yayah Touré

Yayah Touré, a fellow countryman of Drogba, lent his services to Manchester City from 2010 to 2018. That was time enough for the midfielder to appear 230 times and score 62 goals. He lifted the trophy with the Sky Blues three times and won the FA Cup with the team once.

Touré was unique as a midfielder because of this combination of power, pace, height and versatility. At Barcelona, he played a more defensive role, whereas at Manchester City he played a blend of attack and defense in the central third of the pitch. The role really allowed him to sparkle. His pace gave the team an extra edge when on the attack as he quickly moved up through the gears.

Riyad Mahrez

Algerian Riyad Mahrez has served two different clubs in the Premiership: Leicester City and his current club, Manchester City. The forward helped the Foxes lift the Premiership title at the end of the 2015/16. The club’s title win that season was a surprise to everyone, considering that Leicester City had narrowly avoid relegation the season before (Mahrez had been part of the team that secured their place in the top flight). During the team’s 2015/16 campaign, Mahrez scored 17 goals. His dribbling was also outstanding.

Mahrez joined Manchester City in July 2018. Since his arrival, he’s won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three League Cups. He’s also been part of the UEFA Champions League-winning team in 2021.

In addition to all the title glory he’s experienced, Mahrez has won the Premier League’s Best Player award and also British media institution the BBC’s African Player of the Year Award.

The players above have been truly amazing and delighted Premiership club crowds and audiences. Other African players who have stood out in the league include Ghanian former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and Senegalese former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.