Predicting the Top African Scorers in the Premier League
The Premier League is only nine games old, but already 16 African players have found themselves among the goals.
Last year, Yaya Toure was the continent’s highest scorer in the top flight. The Ivorian midfielder bagged 20 as his side, Manchester City, claimed the title. Only two players, Liverpool pair Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, were ahead of him in the pecking order.
Wilfried Bony was another African representative in the top ten, scoring 16 and finishing joint sixth with Edin Dzeko and Olivier Giroud.
Toure and Samuel Eto’o, then of Chelsea, were the only African players to score hat-tricks.
In this feature, we predict the top five African scorers in the Premier League this season.
Please note, for the purpose of this editorial, we have considered African internationals as well as those players who are eligible for African nations but who have not yet represented one.
5. Samuel Eto'o
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Samuel Eto’o comes fifth in our list of top-scoring Africans for this season. Last season, he managed nine in 16 starts for Chelsea making him the fourth highest-scoring African in the Premier League.
There is a case, certainly, to suggest, that he might manage even more goals this term.
Last season was his first in the EPL, and he didn’t always appear to have the confidence of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
Despite this, he scored in important matches against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester United.
His early form at Everton has been encouraging; he has scored three times in two starts (and three substitute appearances).
However, while he bagged two against Burnley alongside Romelu Lukaku, it is unlikely that Roberto Martinez will opt to start both men regularly in the competition—particularly away against tougher opposition.
For this reason—and considering the limitations of age—Eto’o comes in fifth in our EPL predicted African top-scorer chart. Although I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see him higher up this list.
4. Yaya Toure
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Admittedly, Yaya Toure has made an underwhelming start to the Premier League season. His campaign could go one of several ways.
Perhaps his malaise will continue and in January he will be off, a sad end to a glorious spell in Manchester. Paris Saint-Germain are rumoured to be calling after all, according to the Guardian, and when they come knocking, transfers tend to happen.
On the other hand, however, Manuel Pellegrini could procure the “Old Yaya Toure” to help his side keep the pressure on Chelsea.
Within the space of six months, Yaya hasn't lost the ability to score with the regularity that he did last season, but can he rediscover his form?
One goal (and no assists) in eight Premier League appearances to date this season suggests that he will fall way short of his magnificent achievements of last term.
3. Diafra Sakho
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Diafra Sakho has enjoyed an incredible start to life in the Premier League. No one expected that this Senegalese hitman would adapt so quickly since leaving Ligue 2 champions Metz.
Not only has he transitioned to a new country, a new club and a new divison, he has also negotiated an immense leap in quality. Diafra has scored six in his first six Premier League starts (and seven in seven for West Ham United if you consider the League Cup showing against Sheffield United).
It’s truly incredible stuff.
Last season, the forward managed 20 goals in Ligue 2 as the Grenats claimed the title.
Could he repeat the feat this season?
Early signs were positive due, in no small part, to West Ham’s terrific beginning to the season.
A recent shoulder injury threatens to derail his progress, even if chairman David Gold is optimistic he will return for the Hammers’ match with Aston Villa on November 8, via the Guardian.
Competition from the likes of Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate, as well as the taxing schedule of a winter in English football may put the breaks on Sakho’s first season in the EPL.
2. Saido Berahino
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Burundi-born Saido Berahino may feature for the England U21 side, but as he is yet to make a senior appearance for the Three Lions, he is eligible for this list.
The young forward demonstrated his class last season, impressing as he bagged two in his first four Premier League outings for the West Bromwich Albion. The unpredictability of youth affected his form, however, and the exciting striker would only score three more goals during the rest of the campaign.
The Baggies' struggles, the Nicolas Anelka fiasco and Berahino’s own contract dispute meant that his output wasn’t quite what some had anticipated in those heady days of Autumn 2013.
This season, however, it’s looking like a different story.
The Albion started the campaign badly, and indeed, have a long year ahead.
However, there are signs that things are beginning to come together under new boss Alan Irvine. The club have lost only once in their last five.
Berahino has been central to the Baggies' good form. While the world raves about Diafra Sakho, the young Burundian forward has set about shouldering the Albion’s hopes of remaining in the top flight.
Before Tuesday night he had scored six in his last five, and also bagged a brace in August to help Irvine’s side to a 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
Can he remain consistent over the coming months, and will he still be with the Baggies beyond Christmas? Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have been linked with his signature, via the Express.
1. Wilfried Bony
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It may seem odd to place Wilfried Bony at the top of this list, considering his slow start to the season and the explosive opening to the campaign made by Berahino and Sakho.
I believe, however, that the Ivorian frontman has the edge over these two.
Bony didn’t score in the first six games he played in this term. Swansea City may have enjoyed an excellent beginning to the campaign, but Bony’s contribution was limited to an assist against Chelsea and a red card against Southampton.
Since October, however, he has rediscovered his form. He has scored four goals in his last three Premier League matches and looks to have found his rhythm.
It’s important to remember that despite being Africa’s second-highest scorer last term (with 16 goals) Bony also started slowly.
Up to January, he had only managed two Premier League goals, both coming in a 3-3 draw with Stoke City in November.
December was a barren month, before his red-hot form began on New Year’s Day.
He would score 14 goals before the season’s end, despite missing some time through illness.
This season, with a year of experience under his belt, having adapted to the Premier League, with Swansea looking accomplished under Garry Monk and with Gylfi Sigurdsson loading the bullets, expect Bony to top this list.
