Following his impressive form since joining the German Bundesliga side, VfL Wolfsburg, from relegated Newcastle United during the recently concluded summer transfer window, Nigerian international, Obafemi Martins, has been included in the tenth best African player in Europe.
The Super Eagles forward, who was rated as the ninth African best in the current MTNfootball.com rating, trailed the like of inform Chelsea and Ivorien striker, Didier Drogba adjudged the current best, Inter Milan and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon forward, Samuel Eto’o and Mohamed Zidan rated the first and second runners-up respectively.
According to the report, the former Inter Milan and Newcastle attacker appreciated nine places, galloping from 18th position to his current ninth place, following other African stars like Everton playmaker, Steven Pienaar, Malian skipper, Frederic Kanoute, Chelsea and Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien and Manchester City and Hawks of Togo sensation Emmanuel Adebayor.
Interestingly, Martins was not the only Nigerian star that made the list, as current Everton captain, Joseph Yobo, Chelsea playmaker, John Mikel Obi and surprisingly out-of-favour Portsmouth striker and Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu, were also listed.
While Kanu, who had made a sparingly appearance for Pompey jumped from 20th to 16th position, Yobo and Mikel dropped from 17th to 18th and from 15th to 20th positions respectively.
While commenting on the weekly rating, the report noted: “Another exciting week of European football saw many of Africa’s top players also take part in the opening games of the UEFA Champions League as well as the UEFA Europa League. One of Africa’s top strikers got his goal tally going as Frederic Kanoute scored his first, and surely not his last of the season for Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga.
“The Barcelona midfield combination of Keita and Toure were once again fantastic with Keita scoring another goal from midfield on the weekend as Barca beat Atletico Madrid 5-2. All in all another great week for Africa’s top stars plying their trade in Europe,” it added.
BY ROMANUS UGWU
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