Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa is welcomed by Al-Nassr supporters upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on August 10, 2018. In total, 41 Africans — representing 18 different countries — played in the Pro League last season. Players from Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Morocco were soon achieving the same feat, with Ighalo adding Nigeria’s name to that list in 2021-22. In total, Africans have led the scoring charts 14 times in 48 years, with no player making more impact in front of goal than Morocco international Hamdallah - who has finished top of the pile three times. “But with the efforts being made by football authorities in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar to promote their league’s competitiveness, by targeting quality players in Europe, attitudes are possibly changing.

Source: Daily Nation July 07, 2023 08:49 UTC