Top 6 African Goal Scorers In Premier League History

The English Premier League is one of the most hotly contested leagues globally. Boasting thousands of fans spread across Kenya, many Kenyan punters have consistently earned from staking on Premier League fixtures on top bookmaker apps like 22bet -- whose detailed review you can find on https://www.telecomasia.net/ke/sports-betting/reviews/22bet/mobile-app/.

Indeed, in the face of the league's famed competitiveness, it is worth noting that some African footballers have etched their names in the history of Premier League football thanks to their consistent display of genius and bravado.

1. Mohammed Salah

Many people knew Mohammed Salah was a good player when he arrived for a then Liverpool FC club record, £36.9 million in 2018. However, not many anticipated that the "Egyptian Messi" would light up the league in the manner which he had done. It took him no time to settle, and he was unstoppable.

By the end of his first season, he broke the record for the most goals scored in a 38-game Premier League season with 32. Two years later, he won his first EPL title amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Mohammed Salah has won three EPL Golden Boots in the 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2021/22 seasons.

He broke the record for the most goals scored by an African in the EPL by scoring a hat-trick against bitter rivals Manchester United in a League match in October 2021. Salah's currently on 131 goals and is also Liverpool's highest scorer in the EPL.

2. Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane shocked EPL fans when he left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in June 2022. He, Salah, and Firmino formed what many considered EPL's most potent strike force ever. During his stint in the Premier League, he played 263 games, scored 111 goals, and notched 38 assists.

He started his EPL career at Southampton before joining Liverpool in 2016. Sadio Mane spent his most successful years at Anfield, winning the league title and the golden boot once. The golden boot he won was iconic, a joint one with Mohammed Salah and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

Aside from being a prolific scorer, Mane's dribbling and work rate are second to none. Due to his work rate, many consider him the brain of the infamous Salah, Mane, and Firmino trio. He's the second-highest-scoring African of all time in the EPL.

3. Didier Drogba

Almost all of the best African strikers in history have played in the EPL, and Didier Drogba is one of them. You've most certainly heard of him, even if you didn't watch him play. The powerful Ivorian lit up the EPL and was part of Chelsea FC's best moments.

Didier Drogba was an instant hit when he joined Chelsea for the first time in 2004. He won the EPL title in his first two seasons and the Golden Boot in 2007. His tally of 104 goals was the highest by an African before the formidable Mohammed Salah broke the record in 2021.

4. Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)

Emmanuel Adebayor is unarguably Togo's greatest-ever footballer. He was lethal in front of the goal and was every goalkeeper's nightmare. Adebayor began his EPL career at Arsenal, replacing a departing Thierry Henry.

He quickly blended in and banged 46 EPL goals for the North Londoners. After leaving Arsenal, Adebayor signed for Manchester City and scored 15 goals for the Citizens. His most controversial time at Manchester City was when he wildly celebrated a goal he scored against Arsenal, his first club in the EPL.

He played for Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace before bidding the league goodbye in June 2016. Adebayor scored 97 EPL goals, making him the fourth-highest-scoring African ever.

5. Riyad Mahrez

Leicester City's fairytale EPL win in the 2015/16 season is one of the biggest underdog stories in football's history. The team had only gained promotion to the top flight two years earlier, making it even more astonishing. While the title win was impressive, the footballing world discovered another African football sensation; Riyad Mahrez.

Mahrez plays as a right winger and has excellent dribbling and delivery skills. He could also cut in and shoot with his powerful left foot, making him more dangerous. Pep Guardiola wasted no time signing him in 2018 after he'd scored 39 EPL goals for Leicester.

At Manchester City, he added 43 goals to his tally, bringing his total to 82 goals in 273 EPL appearances. With him still actively playing for City, there's no doubt he'll add more goals to his tally. He currently has 4 EPL titles.

6. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang ended his romance with Arsenal in controversy, but it doesn't take away anything from the fact that he's one of Arsenal's best strikers post-Theirry Henry.

He joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 for around £56 million, making him the most expensive Gabonese ever. Aubameyang quickly settled at Arsenal, winning the EPL Golden Boot with 22 goals in his first complete season, an award he shared with Mane and Salah.

He scored 46 more goals for Arsenal, bringing his EPL total for the Gunners to 68. Aubameyang left Arsenal for Barcelona in February 2022 before signing for Chelsea in September of the same year, where he currently plays. He's scored only one EPL goal for Chelsea so far, bringing his overall total to 69, enough to put him 7th on the African's all-time list.

Conclusion

The EPL is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, and it has seen many iconic players. It has hosted some of Africa's finest talents, like Mohammed Salah, Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto'o, Nwankwo Kanu, and Didier Drogba. These players have unique abilities and lit up the EPL in different ways.

The players on this list are the most prolific Africans the EPL has ever seen. While some players like Didier Drogba and Yakubu Ayegbeni are retired, others like Salah and Mahrez are still active. These active players can still score more goals and create more history in the league.