African stars to watch in UCL last 16

There are 25 African players remaining in the last 16 with FC Bayern and Clube Brugge of Belgium each having four representatives the most of any team.

Three teams Eintracht Frankfurt, Benfica and Real Madrid have no African payers in their teams.

Ten African nations are represented among the last 16 teams.

Senegal are the best represented with seven players, Algeria (2), Cameroon (4), Egypt (1), Cote d’ Ivoire (2), Ghana (2), Mali (1), Morocco (2), Nigeria (3) and Guinea (1) all have representatives remaining.

FC Bayern Munich vs PSG

FC Bayern (4)

- Bouna Sarr (SENEGAL), yet to feature

- Noussair Mazraoui (MOROCCO), 5 games

- Eric Maxi Choupo Moting (CAMEROON), 4 games

Saido Mane (SENEGAL), 6 games, 3 goals, expected to be back for Valentines day clash against PSG after a leg injury saw him miss the 2022 FIFAWC.

Paris Saint Germain (1)

Achraf Hakimi (MOROCCO), 6 games Moroccan has been key for PSG and will be important in the clash against the 6 times winners as PSG go in search of their first title.

AC Milan vs Tottenham

AC Milan (2)

1. Fode Ballo (SENEGAL), 4 games for the Rossineri as they look to put domestic woes behind them in search of continental success.

2. Ismael Bennacer (ALGERIA), 6 games for A.C. Milan in the tournament this season.

Tottenham (1)

Pape Sarr (SENEGAL), yet to feature in the UCL this season.

Club Brugge vs Benfica

No African representatives at Benfica, large African contingent at Brugge making history as they reached the last 16.

Club Brugge (4)

- Denis Odoi (GHANA) 5 games

- Abakar Sylla (Cote D’ Ivoire) 5 games

- Raphael Onyadika (NIGERIA) 5 games

- Kamal Sowatt (GHANA) 5 games

- Borussia Dortmund Vs Chelsea

Borussia Dortmund (1)

Sebastian Haller (COTE D’Ivoire), yet to feature has just returned after overcoming testicular cancer.

Chelsea (2)

- Edouard Mendy (SENEGAL)

- Kalidou Koulibaly (SENEGAL)

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

A repeat of last seasons final. Real have no African representative Liverpool have three.

Liverpool (3)

Mohammed Salah (EGYPT), been pivotal thus far playing in all 6 group games, better goalscoring record on the continent this season with 7 goals in 6 games, the same number he has in 20 PL appearances.

Joel Matip (CAMEROON), 3 appearances in the UCL this season.

Naby Keita (GUINEAN), yet to feature in the UCL this season.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli

Napoli have one of the most inform players in their ranks in Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, while Eintracht Frankfurt have no representative from the continent.

Napoli (2)

Victor Osimhen (NIGERIA), missed some group games through injury did manage to play three games scoring one goal. In red hot form tops the Serie scoring chart as he leads Napoli’s charge to a third scudetto and first since 1990.

Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa (CAMEROON), has been influential in Napoli’s run to the last 16 has played in five games and scored in the 4-1 opening game win over Liverpool in the group stages. Has made a further three assists as he continues to be key to their success this season.

R.B. Leipzig vs Manchester City

R.B. Leipzig (2)

1. Abdou Diallo (SENEGAL), another of the huge Senegalese contingent in the knockout phase has played in five games for Leipzig in the UCL this season.

2. Amadou Haidara (MALIAN), Mali’s only representative remaining in the tournament has played in five games for Leipzig.

Manchester City (1)

Riyad Mahrez (ALGERIA), The Algerian has played in all 6 of Manchester City’s games while they have faltered somewhat domestically he will hold the keys for them as they look for a first UCL title.

Inter Milan vs FC Porto

Inter Milan (1)

Andre Onana (CAMEROON), played in all six group games as Inter progressed with Bayern Munich putting FC Barcelona and Viktoria Plzen to the wayside.

FC Porto (1)

1. Zaidu Sanusi (NIGERIA), known colloquially as Zaidu has had an outstanding tournament in the UCL thus far playing in all six group games, got their campaign up an running scoring in their game a 2-0 home win against Bayer Leverkusen after they lost their first two games. Played a big part as Porto won their final four group games, to sideline Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen as they progressed with Clube Brugge.