Eto’o amongst Serie A’s influential African stars

In recognition of Samuel Eto’o’s 35th birthday, the Cameroon striker is in good company amongst the most influential African footballers to have played in Serie A.

After former Inter striker Samuel Eto’o celebrated his 35th birthday on Thursday, the Cameroonian can look back on his time in Italy as one of the most influential Africans to grace Serie A.

Eto’o was instrumental as Jose Mourinho’s Nerrazzurri romped to an unprecedented treble in 2010, scoring 16 goals despite often being utilised out wide. Now at Turkish outfit Antalyaspor, Eto’o is just one of the many African stars who have left his mark in Italy.

Arriving from Barcelona in a swap deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic go the other way, plus the small matter of €46 million, Eto’o had announced himself to the world with the Catalan club. He scored 129 goals and won three league titles and two Champions League crowns during his five years at Barca.

However his time at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in 2009 signalled the beginning of Inter’s most successful season and Eto’o scored a crucial goal against Chelsea in the Champions League Last 16 en route to winning the competition.

The former Cameroon captain scored 37 goals in all competitions for the Nerazzurri, etching his name into the history books as the Coppa Italia top-scorer and coming third in Serie A’s Capocannoniere chart.

ather surprisingly, Eto’o departed Inter for big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala following his Inter stint, only to return to Italy where he endured an ill-fated spell with Sampdoria in 2015 before heading to Turkey.

With many other Ballon D’Or and African Player of the Year winners though, the peninsula has seen its fair share of influential African footballers.

George Weah

The first African to win the FIFA World Player of the Year Award and the Ballon D’Or, George Weah was the star of a late 1990s AC Milan, inspiring the club to two league titles in 1996 and 1999.

As natural replacement for Marco van Basten, whose ankle injury had forced him into retirement, Weah was quick, strong and direct with a penchant for the spectacular.

A 1995 signing from Paris Saint-Germain, Weah’s impact was instant as his 11 goals in 26 matches led Milan to the Scudetto.

His contribution to the successful season was summed up by a wonderful solo goal against Lazio. The Liberian collected the ball and knocked it behind Lazio’s back line, before showing incredible pace to skip past the entire defence and slot home.

His second season yielded 16 goals but will be forever remembered for another stunning solo effort, coming against Hellas Verona. Receiving the ball on the edge of his own box, Weah showcased his strength, pace and close-control to bulldoze his way across the full length of the pitch, avoid challenge after challenge, before firing in.

There is no doubt that Weah will be remembered as one of Serie A’s most iconic players.

Stephen Appiah

Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah spent the majority of a moderately successful career in Europe with Italian clubs, other than three years with Turkish giants Fenerbahce and a brief spell in Serbia before retiring.

Brought to Serie A by Udinese from home town club Hearts of Oak, Appiah made 36 appearances in three seasons with the Zebrette, settling in to European football in style. His performances after being moved into a deeper midfield position caught the eye of high-flying Parma, as Appiah helped the Crociati to the 2002 Coppa Italia.

A successful loan spell with Brescia roused the interest of Juventus, with the Bianconeri bringing the Ghanaian to Turin in 2003. His debut season saw Appiah earn a regular spot in the first-team, only missing four games for Marcello Lippi’s club.

A difficult second year saw Appiah join Fenerbahce, but he soon returned to Italy for brief spells with Bologna and Cesena. His influence as one of the first Ghanaians to play in Serie A paved the way for a whole host of his compatriots to flock to the peninsula.

Obafemi Martins

Nigerian speedster Obafemi Martins was once tipped to be one of the brightest prospects in world football, having burst onto the scene as a teenager with Inter and forming an impressive partnership with Adriano.

Arriving in Italy at the tender age of just 16, Nigerian international Martins initially spent a season with Reggina, before moving to the Nerazzurri. Starring in Inter’s Primavera side, Martins was promoted to the first team and debuted in 2002, before going on to make a further 136 appearances.

Far from a prolific striker, Martins greatest attribute was his blistering pace that was used to stretch defences. Despite looking like going on to be a fixture in Inter’s long-term future, the arrivals of Hernan Crespo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic curtailed his development and Martins was offloaded to Newcastle United.

Patrick M’Boma

A prolific spell in Japanese football with Gamba Osaka persuaded Cagliari to take a punt on Cameroon international Patrick M’Boma in 1998, and the former PSG striker proved to be an important figure.

Scoring seven goals in just 13 appearances as the Sardinians avoided the drop in his debut season, M’Boma followed up with eight more in his second season but could not prevent Cagliari’s relegation. As Parma came swooping, M’Boma remained in Serie A and fired in five goals to help the Ducali secure a Champions League qualifying spot by finishing fourth.

His goalscoring exploits for club and country, with a hugely impressive return of 33 goals in just 57 appearances for Cameroon, saw M’Boma named African Player of the Year in 2000.

Mehdi Benatia

Current Bayern Munich centre-back Mehdi Benatia earned his move to the German champions after a stunning debut campaign with Roma in 2013.

Signed as a replacement for PSG-bound Marquinhos, the Moroccan proved a more than capable replacement and was instrumental as the Giallorossi went on a 10-game winning streak. A solid defender with a good reading of the game, Benatia also showed his effectiveness at the other end of the pitch after scoring five goals.

The 28-year-old moved to the capital after three solid years at Udinese, making 80 appearances for the Zebrettte and establishing himself as a top class Serie A defender.

hy cabinet laden with three Scudetti and a Coppa Italia have been the reward for Asamoah, who has been deployed most commonly as a wing-back for the Bianconeri.

Beginning his professional career with Udinese, Asamoah was a stalwart of the Zebrette and featured 114 times in his four seasons at the club, including as an ever-present figure during the 2009/10 campaign.

A full Ghanaian international, with 66 caps to his name, Asamoah — before injuries cut into his playing time — had become an important part of Antonio Conte’s Juve with his power and stamina all being used to great effect.

Seydou Keita

Vastly experienced defensive midfielder Seydou Keita looked set to be winding down his career after a spell in China was followed by his release from Valencia. However, a free transfer to Roma gave the Malian a new lease of life and he has proven himself to be a useful member of the squad since joining in 2014.

A calming presence in the middle of the pitch, Keita’s defensive prowess has allowed Roma’s more attack-minded midfielders to bomb forward whilst also providing an alternative to Daniele De Rossi.

Having won three league titles and the Champions League twice with Barcelona, Keita has brought some much needed know-how to the Giallorossi and his influence is often understated.

Samuel Kuffour

Joining Roma in 2005 off the back of 11 seasons with Bayern Munich, defender Samuel Kuffour arrived in Italy as a six-time Bundesliga winner and Champions League winner.

The Giallorossi snapped up the then 29-year-old on a free transfer and Kuffour played an important role in his debut season with the club, making 21 appearances.

However, with Christian Chivu, Matteo Ferrari and Philippe Mexes the preferred choices at centre-back, the Ghanaian was duly moved to fellow Serie A club Livorno on loan, followed by a spell at Ajax before duly being released by Roma.

Although he was unable to establish himself as a long-term fixture in Serie A, Kuffour came in as a vastly experienced player and showed his quality during his first season in Italy.

Sulley Muntari

Another of Serie A’s large contingent of Ghanaians, Sulley Muntari was brought to Serie A from his homeland by Udinese and caught the eye with an excellent debut performance against Milan.

Making 138 appearances for the club between 2002 and 2007, Muntari became a first-team regular but was dismissed five times in his final season, unfortunately merely a sign of things to come.

A club record move to Premier League outfit Portsmouth followed and but he soon returned to Italy. Looking for cover for Esteban Cambiasso, Inter secured the signature of Muntari and the Ghana international delivered some important performances, including the winning goal in the 2008 Derby D’Italia against Juventus.

Another short stint in England led to a roundtrip back to Milan, although the red half of it. A goal on debut looked to have set the tone for his spell with the Rossoneri and whilst he put in some strong performances, injuries and disciplinary problems became a common occurrence.

Far from being a lynchpin for the Rossoneri, he did however become infamous and will forever live in the memory of the club for his disallowed goal against Juventus in 2012, which ultimately tilted the balance of power towards the Turin giants who went on to lift the Scudetto.

Muntari was released by Milan in 2015, but 333 appearances for Serie A clubs means that his influence remains strong in Italy.