The African National Dream Team

Daniel Puselj by Contributor Written on June 28, 2009

Slide 1 of 14

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 30:  Michael Essien of Chelsea outjumps Steven Pienaar of Everton during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON Final match between Chelsea and Everton at Wembley Stadium on May 30, 2009 in London, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Ima
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

There have been many players of African decent around the world. I will be writing about the best possible starting 11 players who are from Africa. The team will be displayed in a normal 4-4-2 formation.

I know that my team may not be very good as my knowledge of African players aren't great, but I will try my best and we will see how it turns out.

GK: Carlos Kameni, Cameroon, Espanyol

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 21:  Carlos Kameni of Espanyol celebrates after his team scored their second goal during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium on February 21, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by Denis Doyle/

Carlos Kameni is Cameroon's first choice keeper and a very versatile one indeed.

He has had a mediocre season with Espanyol finishing 10th playing 37 games, saving 124 shots and keeping 12 clean sheets.

His performances have atracted attention from bigger clubs around the world.

RB: Emmanuel Eboue, Ivory Coast, Arsenal

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24:  Emmanuel Eboue of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Stoke City at Emirates Stadium on May 24, 2009 in London, England.  (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Usually not a right back but was at a time for Arsenal is this man Emmanuel Eboue.

Emmanuel has played 26 times throughout the season and has scored four goals and has also assisted four times. Emmanuel has some what fallen out with the fans of Arsenal but has never given up.

CB: Kolo Toure, Ivory Coast, Arsenal

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 15:  Kolo Toure of Arsenal runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium on April 15, 2009 in London, England.  (Photo by Hamish Blair/Gett

It was a hard decision to pick only two centre backs and Kolo is the obvious choice for one of those to pick.

Kolo has been a versatile figure for Arsenal in recent years and has served them well. Kolo has featured for Arsenal 38 times this season scoring once and assisting once.

There has been much transfer talk over his future with Manchester City being interested.

CB: Josheph Yobo, Nigeria, Everton

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 22:  Florent Malouda of Chelsea battles for the ball with Joseph Yobo of Everton during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on April 22, 2009 in London, England.  (Photo by Phil Cole/Get

Just nicking John Mensah is Joseph Yobo. Joseph Yobo was one of David Moyes' first signings and what a delightful one he's turned out to be.

Joseph is a rock in the middle of defence and has been working really hard to try and keep his place in the first team because of the work of Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott.

Throughout the season Joseph has played 30 games and has also managed to score a goal. There is speculation surrounding him with a move to Arsenal and Manchester City but those rumors were put to rest when Joseph signed a new contract.

LB: Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Cameroon, Tottenham

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 15:  Benoit Assou-Ekotto of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on March 15, 2009 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffit

I wasn't sure whether he was a left back but he is in this team. Benoit has been a patient player for Tottenham and has been rewarded with regular playing time this season.

Benoit has played 35 games this season, has assisted twice but hasn't scored any goals. There haven't been any rumors regarding his future of late so it looks as though Benoit will be a spur for another season.

RM: Sulley Ali Muntari, Ghana, Inter Milan

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 24:  Sulley Muntari of Inter Milan gets past John O'Shea of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League, Round of Last 16, First Leg match between Inter Milan and Manchester United at the San Siro Stadium on February 24, 200

Not usually a right sided midfielder but is in this dream team he is. Sulley Ali Muntari was bought by Jose Mourinho and he has been a decent signing for him this season.

This season he has featured 32 times scoring four goals and assisting six times. There has been a little bit of transfer rumors surrounding him with one of them being him swapped with Jermaine Jenas.

CM: Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast, Barcelona

VALENCIA, SPAIN - MAY 13:  Toure Yaya of Barcelona in action during the Copa del Rey final match between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the Mestalla stadium on May 13, 2009 in Valencia, Spain. Barcelona won 4-1.  (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Gett

Bought from AS Monaco, Yaya was imediately inducted into the first team. He has had a more than above average season with Barcelona picking up a UEFA Champions League medal during the season.

Yaya has played 34 games this season in which he was able to score twice and assist once. There has been speculation surrounding his future with Manchester City and Arsenal the most notable teams chasing him.

CM: Michael Essien, Ghana, Chelsea

LONDON - MARCH 15:  Michael Essien of Chelsea in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on March 15, 2009 in London, England.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Alongside Yaya in the middle of the park is Michael Essien. Not the best of seasons for Michael who has been out with injury but he did manage to win himself an FA Cup medal.

Michael played 17 times this season for Chelsea managing to score three times. Not certain about the transfer speculation surrounding him but I hear that both Milan teams and Barcelona are interested.

LM: Steven Pienaar, South Africa, Everton

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 25:  Steven Pienaar of South Africa looks to the heavens prior to the FIFA Confederations Cup Semi Final match beween Brazil and South Africa at Ellis Park on June 25, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa.  (Photo by Alex L

There was no doubt in my mind that Steven Pienaar was going to be in this dream team. Everton initially purchased Steven on a loan and after careful consideration decided to own him on a permanent basis.

Steven Pienaar has played 33 times this season for Everton and also has scored two goals. Atletico Madrid and Rubin Kazan are two clubs that are interested in him.

FW: Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast, Chelsea

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 30: Didier Drogba of Chelsea is challenged by Joleon Lescott of Everton during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON Final match between Chelsea and Everton at Wembley Stadium on May 30, 2009 in London, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Get

It was very difficult to only pick two strikers but Didier Drogba is one of them. Didier has had a topsy turvey season with Chelsea but really shone through when Gus Hiddink arrived.

Didier has played 29 times this season managing to score 14 goals and assisting five times. Inter boss Jose Mourinho is interested in bringing the big man to the San Siro.

FW: Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon, Barcelona

ROME - MAY 27:  Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona celebrates after he scored the first goal for Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27, 2009 in Rome, Italy.  (Photo by Alex L

Samuel Eto'o is the other inclusion in the dream team edging out Morocco's Marouane Chamakh and Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor.

Samuel has been one of Barcelona's shining lights this season, this season Samuel has managed 34 goals and six assists in 44 games which is quite simply amazing. He is being linked with a big money and I mean big money move to Manchester City where it is rumored he will be getting a million a month.

The Bench

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 17:  John Mikel Obi of Chelsea looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge on May 17, 2009 in London, England.  (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

The bench will consist of seven players.

GK: Richard Kingston
CB: Sebastian Bassong
CB: John Mensah
CM: John Obi Mikel
CM: Ahmed Hassan
FW: Marouane Chamakh
FW: Emmanuel Adebayor.

Hope you have enjoyed the piece.

(1)
...
Share This  
Crop_45x45
or to post this comment

8 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment

Loading more comments...
posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

282
reads

8
comments

written on June 28, 2009 Sports

Telegraph.co.uk Football News

Visit Telegraph.co.uk for more news.

The best newsletter on the web

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address


CBS Sports Official Partner
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.