Top 10 African Performers Halfway Through Champions League Group Stage
The 2014-15 Champions League group stage is already three matches old. The eight groups are starting to take shape and various sides are emerging as early contenders for the most prestigious title in European club football.
Several players have impressed, emerging as key protagonists over the opening 270 minutes of action.
In this feature, we celebrate the Top 10 African performers of the first half of the Champions League group stage. These players have been ranked subjectively on the quality and consistency of their performances.
While all 10 of these players are eligible to play for African nations (nine are full internationals), one has not yet confirmed whether he will represent one of the continent’s national teams.
10. Seydou Doumbia
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CSKA Moscow looked to be sinking without a trace in Champions League Group E.
Admittedly, the Russian side have an exceptionally tough pool, but opening defeats against AS Roma and Bayern Munich have given the army club a great deal work to do in order to progress.
At home to Manchester City in their most recent European outing, CSKA were 2-0 down and heading toward elimination. They turned it round, however, with two goals in the last 25 minutes and secured a point.
Ivorian striker Seydou Doumbia was pivotal to that change in fortunes. He was came on as a substitute against City and got the Russians back into the match with a close-range finish.
He later went down under a challenge from Aleksandar Kolarov to win CSKA a crucial penalty, which Bibras Natkho converted.
Can the forward—who has an excellent scoring record in the European Cup—ensure that the Horses can at least seal Europa League qualification?
9. Chinedu Obasi
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Some Schalke 04 fans will be pleased just to see Chinedu Obasi back in action. The Nigeria forward endured a disjointed campaign last year, with injury reducing his minutes, but he has started the new season strongly.
He has contributed to Schalke’s unbeaten start to Group G, and he levelled the scores in the 4-3 win over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
He also set up another goal against the Portuguese side.
Having been largely overlooked by departed Nigeria boss Stephen Keshi, the former Hoffenheim man will be hoping to get another chance to star for the Super Eagles under new boss Shaibu Amodu.
8. Seydou Keita
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No one on this list has as much Champions League experience as Seydou Keita. The Malian midfielder is a two-time winner of the competition; he claimed the European Cup in 2009 and 2011 as part of Pep Guardiola’s magnificent Barcelona side.
Following detours in China and Valencia, Keita’s back playing in the world’s greatest club competition with AS Roma.
He played the full 90 minutes of Roma’s 5-1 demolition of CSKA Moscow and was also present as the capital club secured a valuable away point at Manchester City. Keita’s big-game experience and discipline proved decisive, as they have done so regularly in Serie A this term.
In the Champions League, as noted by WhoScored.com, the midfielder has averaged 80 passes per game, the sixth highest in the tournament.
He hasn’t played since the 3-2 defeat to Juventus, however, having been sidelined with a calf injury.
Roma need him back as soon as possible if they are to progress from a particularly taxing Group E.
7. Kwadwo Asamoah
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Following the arrival of Patrice Evra from Manchester United, Kwadwo Asamoah’s influence at Juventus has declined a little this season.
The Ghanaian has only featured three times in Serie A, but he has started two of Juve's three matches in the Champions League.
He contributed an assist in the perfunctory 2-0 victory over Malmo, but he was fairly ineffectual as the Old Lady were beaten by Olympiacos.
Admittedly, the Black Star has only been played in the centre of midfield once (against Malmo) this season, but it appears he has yet to convince Max Allegri of his value to the team.
6. Mehdi Benatia
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Moroccan centre-back Mehdi Benatia has adapted well to life in Bavaria following his move from AS Roma to Bayern Munich in the summer.
Pep Guardiola paid a premium price for the former Udinese man, but so far, the North African is looking to be worth the fee.
He has averaged 79 passes per game in the Champions League so far, the seventh highest in the tournament, via WhoScored.com. It helps, of course, that he’s joined such a complete team—four of the six players who have averaged more passes than Benatia also play for Bayern.
However, the new man deserves great credit for having played his part in Bayern’s excellent start to the tournament. Despite finding themselves in the toughest group, the German champions have only conceded once in their opening three matches.
5. Chancel Mbemba
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He may not be the most high-profile defender in the tournament (or even in this list), but Chancel Mbemba’s performances have been up there with the best in the competition so far this season.
According to WhoScored.com, the Democratic Republic of the Congo international has averaged 4.7 interceptions per match (the fifth highest in the tournament) and averaged 10.7 clearances per match (only one player has managed more).
His defensive efforts haven’t been enough for Anderlecht to either keep a clean sheet or earn a victory, but he has demonstrated an indisputable aptitude for playing in Europe’s elite club competition.
4. Arthur Masuaku
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Three games into the Champions League campaign, and Olympiacos full-back Arthur Masuaku has been Man of the Match on two occasions, according to WhoScored.com.
The Greek giants were one of the surprise packages of last season’s tournament, and they look on course to escape their group again this year.
Despite losing away to Malmo, they top Group A with six points. On Wednesday, The Reds beat Juventus—just as this columnist predicted they would—securing one of the most famous results in their history.
Arthur Masuaku scored in the opening-round victory over Atletico Madrid and has impressed over the subsequent games. The 20-year-old has represented France at youth level, but he is also eligible for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
3. Gervinho
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AS Roma were bitterly unfortunate to have drawn both Bayern Munich and Manchester City in the Champions League group stage. In almost any other group, they would have been gunning for top spot. In Group E, however, they will surely be happy just to sneak into the last 16.
Despite an encouraging start, there was a gulf in class when Roma welcomed Bayern Munich to the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.
Gervinho’s goal against Bayern was ultimately inconsequential, but the Ivorian has been one of Roma’s star performers, if not their key man thus far.
He bagged a brace against CSKA Moscow in Roma’s opener, and he has also contributed an assist. His performances have led to some—including the African Football Weekly podcast team—to argue whether he should be considered as a contender for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award.
2.Yacine Brahimi
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Few players have excelled quite like Yacine Brahimi in the Champions League this season. Admittedly, FC Porto don’t have the toughest pool, and BATE Borisov were feeble opponents in their Group H opener, but the Algerian international has thrived upon being introduced to Europe’s elite club competition.
Brahimi often struggled for consistency at both Granada and Stade Rennais, but he is looking the part at Porto.
He was influential against Lille in the play-offs and contributed an assist in the 2-1 victory over Athletic Club.
That triumph put Porto top of the group with seven points from their opening three matches. Brahimi may soon have the chance to demonstrate that his agility, dribbling ability and fine movement off the ball can influence matches in the knockout stages of the competition.
1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Borussia Dortmund may be struggling in the Bundesliga, but few can complain with their excellent form in the Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp’s boys are one of only three sides with a 100 per cent record at this stage, and they are one of only two teams yet to concede a goal.
Their defence might be impressive, but their attack is also looking the part as well.
Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos deserve credit for making such an instant impact at BVB, but I would argue that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been the team’s standout performer.
The Gabon international needs to step up and replace the goals of the departed Robert Lewandowski. So far, he appears to be succeeding.
He scored against Arsenal in Dortmund’s 2-0 victory over the Gunners and bagged a brace in their triumph over Galatasaray.
