Following the conclusion of the Champions League Last
16, attention now turns to the Quarter-Finals. This article presents
the African players still in the competition
ANALYSIS
By Ed Dove
The Champions League Last 16 is now behind us and the field of competitors has been cut down to eight. Three Spanish sides, two German sides, two English sides and a French side remain in contention for Europe’s elite footballing prize.
African luminaries such as Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Michael Essien have fallen by the wayside, while two thirds of the remaining Nigerian contenders also dropped out in the Round of 16.
Chinedu Obasi’s Schalke were crushed by Real Madrid, their 9-2 defeat appearing as though it belonged in a different era.
Despite playing a key role in Olympiakos’s famous 2-0 victory over Manchester United, Michael Olaitan didn’t play as the Greek side succumbed to a Robin van Persie hat-trick at Old Trafford.
However, a number of the continent’s big names do remain ‘alive’ in the competition and are still in with a shot of glory. This feature provides a Tie-by-Tie guide to the remaining African contenders.
Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid
The only African player involved in this all-Spanish tie is Cameroon midfield man Alex Song. Although, to say ‘involved’ might be overplaying it!
The former Arsenal man’s travails continue in Catalonia where, despite a positive spell in the midfield at the end of last season, he has largely struggled to assert himself in the Blaugrana first XI.
He started in the defeat against Real Sociedad at the end of February, but has predominantly been out of the picture since, remaining an unused substitute against Manchester City.
It is likely that injury to a team-mate represents his best route into the side.
Alex Song | Peripheral Influence
Again, African representation is rather thin on the ground in this battle, a rematch from last year’s semi-finals.
Dortmund are no longer the irresistible force they were last season. Injuries to key players—stars such as Marcel Schmelzer, Ilkay Gundogan and Neven Subotic have missed vital matches—while player sales and the uncertainty surrounding Robert Lewandowski have also undermined their approach.
One key addition they made in the summer, however, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, could be one player capable of making a difference and influencing this heavyweight clash. The Gabonese forward hasn’t made too much of an impact in the Champions League, but the encounters with Real could be the kind of platform on which he can thrive.
Aubameyang | Can he provide the X-Factor against Real Madrid?
As he demonstrated in recent matches against Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur, Samuel Eto’o retains the knack for scoring in the big occasions. His early goal against the Turks helped to diffuse a potentially problematic obstacle and helped the crowd from lapsing into early Didier Drogba nostalgia.
The veteran will be keen to equal Clarence Seedorf’s record and win a fourth Champions League title with a third different club. Paris Saint-Germain represent taxing opposition, but with Jose Mourinho at the helm, it is well within Chelsea’s grasp.
Eto'o | Coming for you, Clarence
What is most concerning, perhaps, is that over the two-legged Champions League match-up with Galatasaray, with Matic cup-tied, Mikel only played 23 minutes in the first leg. He remained an unused substitute in the return at Stamford Bridge.
The fact that Mourinho preferred the ageing Frank Lampard does not augur well for Mikel’s Stamford Bridge future.
Senegalese forward Demba Ba has been reduced to an almost permanent substitute role under Jose Mourinho, but he does offer a threat off the bench. He scored a brace against Spurs in a recent London derby and has already bagged twice in the Champions League so far this season.
Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah is cup-tied and thus not eligible for the Blues’s double-header with the French giants.
For Paris’s part, their only African representation comes in the form of teenage Franco-Congolese striker Hervin Ongenda who, despite bursting onto the season earlier in the campaign, is yet to make his Champions League debut.
Ba | Time yet to leave a lasting legacy at Chelsea?
Neither David Moyes’s Premier League strugglers nor Pep Guardiola’s reigning-European champions possess any African players, although Goal Nigeria fans will doubtless keep an eye out for Austrian left-back David Alaba, whose father is from the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment