Over the summer, you aren’t going to see a lot of football games involving Africans.
The Europeans Championships, Gold Cup and Copa America, will occupy other continents whilst most African footballers will put their boots away once their club seasons have finished.
Since there will be a shortage of goals over the next few months there probably isn’t a better time to look at some spectacular strikes. This list looks at some of the best from African players based around the world over the last year.
Sometimes you go to the market to buy a Coke and mistakenly come back with something that looks like Coke, has a similar name but tastes completely different. The African Nations Championship (CHAN) is kind of like that and no doubt, a few people bought tickets for the tournament thinking it was the Nations Cup.
Only 20 per cent of the players in the original tournament are based in the continent, making the Championship important because it features only domestic footballers.
Mechack Elia is someone to look out for in the future after a number of instrumental performances for Congo, including his strike in the final.
‘He’s got ability like not many people you’ve seen in your life’, ‘genius’, ‘you are worth 20m.’
These were just a few of the quotes attributed to Adel Taarabt in his earlier days. However one talent he definitely has is the ability to annoy managers.
That skill was evident in a ridiculous moment during QPR’s defeat to Fulham in 2011 when he was subbed off with the team 4-0 down and decided to storm out and take the bus home!
Things haven’t gone too well for him since that point, but when he wants, he can still give fans a little hope, as he did for Benfica B.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_et2CZH6sM&feature=youtu.be
Sometimes a keeper can do everything. You can line your wall up, position just right in the goal and still be completely out of control when a sweetly struck free kick flies past you.
This effort from Oussama was definitely one of those moments. Now, every time that Oussama steps up for an attempt, keepers should be a little wary. And, keepers, it’s probably a good move to make sure your hair’s cut right that day because you might pop up in a YouTube clip.
When Samuel Eto’o appeared for Chelsea under José Mourinho, the manager quipped that he was probably older than his 32 years.
Totally unfair: the striker still has the same baby-faced appearance that graced the Spanish league almost 20 years ago.
No matter what some critics may think, the Cameroonian still has a lot to give and he has been a star for Turkish team Antalyaspor this season, scoring a number of special goals including the below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDJa9osHKtQ#t=20s
If you think Eto’o is kind of old then you probably expect Didier Drogba to have one of those stairlifts in his house. In his last year at Chelsea it seemed that in a lot of games, he needed some slippers and a comfortable chair but he’s found himself in the MLS with Montreal Impact.
The team currently sit top of their conference in the league because… you know, Didier only associates with winners. It doesn’t matter how old you get, you can always take a good free kick.
Life can hit you pretty fast in football and before you know it you’ve achieved something crazy. In 2010, the South African winger scored the opening goal in the World Cup.. in his home city… on his 50th cap… in front of 80,000 fans… before being named man of the match.
You can’t make that stuff up and although he has achieved some success with Kaizer Chiefs, that’s probably the story he is going to tell his grandkids first and, when he does, he’ll describe the strike as being from 50 yards travelling at 100mph.
But you know what?, they might believe him because he is capable of goals like this.
Last year the Lesotho national team was minutes away from a historic result against Algeria. The team currently ranked 148th in the world was five minutes away from achieving a draw against the highest ranked African team… .and then reality hit.
Within a few minutes they were 3-1 down, and their brave efforts which would have been worthy of a TV movie, now probably didn’t even merit a Facebook post. The highlight of the game was the spectacular goal scored by Ralekoti Mokhahlane.
There is a YouTube channel dedicated to Arsenal, where fans speak freely about everything they don’t like about the club. Giving a microphone to irate frustrated football fans doesn’t always lead to the most intelligent and balanced responses. If you are one of the underperforming players, watching that channel could make you to shed a few tears.
Fortunately new recent signing Mohamed Elneny hasn’t had any problems, quickly settling in North London. The most surprising feature of his game is his composure and ability on the ball but if Arsenal fans had watched some of his goals and performances for Basel, they wouldn’t have been so startled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxum6sVK2jE