English football has long been a stage where African footballers have dazzled with their skill, flair, and resilience. Over the years, these athletes have delivered unforgettable performances and shattered records, etching their names into football history. From blistering hat-tricks to game-winning assists, their impact has been undeniable.
In this article, we highlight 10 stunning records held by African footballers in English football history. Let’s celebrate their moments of glory and the lasting legacies they continue to build.
MANE’S LANDMARK TREBLE
Sadio Mané notched an unbelievable slice of history on the 16th of May 2015 against Aston Villa FC. The Liverpool legend was still on the books of Southampton FC at the time. The Senegalese winger netted the fastest Premier League hat-trick in history, completing his treble in an incredible 2 minutes 56 seconds in their 6–1 demolition of Aston Villa at the St Mary’s Stadium. His heroics allowed him to overtake Robbie Fowler as the record holder of the fastest hat trick in the history of the Premier League.
AFRICAN KING
Mohammed Salah has broken and rewritten countless records in the English Premier League. The mercurial winger seemingly rewrites the record books on a daily basis. The Egyptian winger burst onto the premier league scene with Liverpool in the 2017–18 season, becoming the first African player and third player in history to score against 17 teams in a single season, failing to find the net against a single team in a landmark season.
The Egyptian winger is the highest-scoring African footballer in Premier League history. He overtook Didier Drogba on the 24th of October 2021, following his devastating hattrick against Manchester United at Old Trafford. His current goal tally stands at 182 goals, and he has recorded 84 assists across 289 league appearances. He is the sixth-highest goal scorer in EPL history. King Mo!
PL BAD BOY
Victor Wanyama joined an infamous list of eight players to have received the most red cards in a single premier league season at the end of the 2015–16 season. The full-back was sent off thrice for Southampton against Norwich City, West Ham, and Bournemouth in that particular season. His third red card of the season against West Ham earned him a mandatory five-game suspension.
MR INEVITABLE
Sadio Mane was a nightmare to a number of Premier League clubs during his Premier League stint, most notably during his time with Liverpool FC. Crystal Palace were the most delighted to see the back of him in a Liverpool shirt compared to other Premier League clubs.
The winger set the record for the most consecutive Premier League goal-scoring appearances by a player against a single opponent, netting in nine consecutive appearances against Crystal Palace from the 19th of August 2017 to the 18th of September 2021. Unfortunately, AFCON action prevented the Senegalese winger from extending his record in January 2022. It is easy to understand why numerous Premier League defenders were happy to see the back of the electric winger in the English League.
UNSELFISH ATTACKING DISPLAY
Controversial hitman Emmanuel Adebayor joined an elite company of players who have provided four assists in a single game. The striker unselfishly set up his teammates four times in Tottenham’s 5-0 rout of Newcastle United on the 11th of February 2012. The striker set up Benoît Assou-Ekotto, Niko Kranjcar, and Louis Saha twice in the first half before netting the final goal in their ruthless decimation of The Magpies.
MOST PREMIER LEAGUE TITLES
Riyadh Mahrez became the first Algerian to scoop a Premier League trophy following Leicester’s fairytale maiden league title triumph in 2016.
The Algerian winger secured a move to Manchester City in July 2018, winning four more Premier League titles with the Citizens. His final EPL triumph allowed him to become the African Player with the most Premier League titles, overtaking Chelsea legend Didier Drogba in the process. The nimble-footed Algerian was a reliable presence on the right wing during his stint at the Etihad.
MR PREMIER LEAGUE
Mo Salah has made a habit of rewriting Premier League records during his Liverpool career. Countless records have fallen in the Egyptian winger’s path during his storied career in the English League. The Egyptian winger is the record holder of the most Champions League goals for an English club, beating Didier Drogba and Sergio Agüero to the prestigious record. Salah has netted 44 Champions League goals for Liverpool during his time with the Reds thus far. He is on course to increase his goal tally this season.
BIG YAK
Nigerian football legend Yakubu Aiyegbeni had a stellar career in the English Premier League. The Yak turned out for several Premier League clubs during his stint in England.
Yak is the only African to net four goals in a Premier League match on two occasions, doing so against Middlesbrough and Swansea City whilst on the books of Portsmouth FC and Blackburn Rovers, respectively.
He remains the fifth-highest African goalscorer in Premier League history with 96 goals.
ALL DAY, EVERY DAY
Kelechi Iheanacho is the first and only Premier League Player in history to score a goal on all days of the week in the same season. The striker completed his run by netting for Leicester City in their loss against Chelsea in May 2021. It was an unforgettable record-breaking season for Seniorman, as he was at his clinical best and led the Foxes to a historic FA Cup triumph.
BIG GAME PLAYER
Didier Drogba was made for the biggest occasions. The mercurial Ivorian forward had a penchant for turning up on the biggest occasions. The Champions League final, FA Cup finals, and Carabao Cup finals, just name it!
He became the only player to score in and win both English domestic cup finals in the same season, doing so in 2007. Additionally, he is the only player to score in three League Cup finals, netting in the 2005, 2007 and 2008 finals. Drogba is also the only player to score in four FA Cup finals, netting in the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012 finals.
