As the 2023-24 season in the Premier League comes to a close, African players like Andre Onana, Sofyan Amrabat, and Amad Diallo have had contrasting performances. While Onana has had a tough start with some high-profile errors, Amrabat has failed to replicate his success from the Moroccan national team, and Diallo has struggled with injuries throughout the season. However, Diallo showed his potential with a stunning winner against Liverpool and a solid performance against Newcastle United. It remains to be seen if Diallo can convince the coach to give him a starting role in the upcoming FA Cup final.
In the Championship playoff final, African stars like Joe Aribo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Samuel Edozie, and Sekou Mara will be aiming to secure promotion for their team, Southampton. Aribo, in particular, has had a challenging season but is starting to find his form at the right time. Sulemana has impressed with his dribbling skills but needs to improve his end product to become more effective for Southampton.
Bayer Leverkusen has had a remarkable season, winning the Bundesliga without losing a match and reaching the finals of the Europa League and the German Cup. African players like Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella, and Amine Adli have been key figures for Leverkusen throughout the season. Leverkusen will be looking to complete a domestic double with a victory in the German Cup final against Kaiserslautern.
Paris Saint-Germain will be facing Olympique Lyonnais in the French Cup final, with fullback Achraf Hakimi being a standout performer for PSG. Hakimi has had an excellent season and will be looking to continue his fine form in the final against Lyon. Lyon, on the other hand, have seen a resurgence in form, with Said Benrahma playing a crucial role in their success. Benrahma will be hoping to carry his good form into the final against PSG.
In Serie A, Tyronne Ebuehi’s Empoli, Maduka Okoye’s Udinese, and Caleb Okoli’s Frosinone are all battling to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. Ebuehi’s Empoli will need a win against AS Roma to secure survival, while Udinese and Frosinone will also be fighting for their Serie A status. African players like Hassane Kamara and Isaac Success will play pivotal roles in these relegation battles.
In the Turkish Super Lig, Hakim Ziyech is on loan at Galatasaray and is aiming to clinch the league title. Ziyech has been influential for Galatasaray, contributing to nine goals in 18 matches. A title win for Galatasaray would also mean a first major honor for Wilfried Zaha, who joined the club from Crystal Palace at the start of the season. Fenerbahce, with players like Alexander Djiku and Bright Osayi-Samuel, are also in contention for the title and will be looking to secure a win in their final match.
Overall, African players across various European leagues have had a mixed bag of performances this season, with some excelling and others facing challenges. As the season concludes, all eyes will be on these players as they look to make an impact in crucial matches and competitions.