AFRICAN PLAYERS WITH OVER 100 CAPS FOR PSG
Agreement reached with all arrangements scheduled, Moroccan lateral defender, Achraf Hakimi is expected to be announced as a new Parisian.
Achraf Hakimi, 22 , will sign a deal to keep him in Paris from Milan until June, 2026. His scintillating performances has convinced the French capital club to part with €70m for his services with a new season fast approaching.
Achraf Hakimi
Born in Madrid, Spain, Hakimi joined Inter Milan last year on a 5 year deal worth €40m from Real Madrid. A product of “La Fabrica”, he joins the club he made his Madrid debut against in 2016.
He will be the fourth African player in the current PSG side. He joins Senegalese duo, Abdou Diallo and Iddrisa Gueye with teenager, Randriamamy Mathyas from Madagascar also climbing up the ranks of the club
The club based in cosmopolitan Paris since it’s conception in 1970 has seen close to 500 players playing at least a game for the first team. There has been a number of those from Africa.
Hakimi is set to be the latest from the continent to join Les Rouges et Bleu. I come your way with a profile of players from Africa to have amassed over a century (100) of caps for the Paris based club.
MUSTAPHA DALEB (310 apps)
Daleb, an Algerian former professional footballer spent his teething stage at local club CR Belouizdad. Born in Bejaia, Algeria, the midfielder earned his move to PSG in 1974 where stayed to 1984.
He featured for the Algerian national team from 1971 to 1983. He managed 98 goals and 30 assists from midfield for Les Parisiens during his stay.
FRANCOIS M’PELE (217 apps)
The Brazaville born forward moved to French side Ajaccio in 1968 from Congo based Standard Brazaville. M’Pele, now 73, then secured a move to PSG after notching over half a century of goals for Ajaccio. He represented the capital based side from 1973 to 1978.
As at 2014, he was the club’s fourth all time leading goalscorer with 97 in all competitions. He remains the club’s leading goalscorer in the Coupe du France with 28 goals. In 2006, M’Pele was elected by CAF as one of the best 200 African football players of the last 50 years.
OUMAR SÈNE (200 apps)
The Senegalese former international played as a midfielder for PSG from 1985 to 1992. He won the Senegal Premier League in 1980 with US Gorée before switching to France to play for Stade Laval. His son Saer Sène, 34, played with PSG too until 2005.
GEORGE WEAH (138 apps)
1990/91 Foreign Player of the year in the French Division 1, Weah, moved to PSG from Monaco in 1992. Now President of Liberia, Weah gained his prime move to Europe in 1988 when Arsene Wenger signed him for Monaco. In his spell at Paris, he won the Ligue 1 in 1994 and became the Top scorer if the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League.
He further added two Coup de France winner’s medals before joining AC Milan. The rest we know.
BOUBACAR SARR (114 apps)
Now 69, the Senegalese forward played as a striker for a host of clubs in France. He represented PSG from 1978 to 1983. Nicknamed “Locatte”, he bagged the Coupe du France twice scoring 3 goals in his stay.
AUGUSTINE AZUKA OKOCHA (113 apps)
The attacking midfielder was born in Enugu, Nigeria. A journey man, the Enugu Rangers trainee served PSG from 1998 to 2002. He joined from Fenerbache in Turkey.
The Olympic gold winner in 1996 cost the French club £14m, making him the most expensive African player at the time. Okocha served as a mentor for young Brazilian footballer, Ronaldinho in Paris.
TALAL EL KARKOURI (113 apps)
A centre back by trade, the Moroccan before retiring on 2012 played top flight football in Morocco, France, Greece, England and Qatar. A former Raja Casablanca star, he served PSG from 2000 to 2004. He managed games in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League before he was sent on loan to Aris in Greece and Sunderland in England respectively.
He won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001 and the 2003/04 Coupe du France before his departure.
STÉPHANE SESSÈGNON (105 apps)
Benin’s all time top scorer and caps holder joined Les Rogues et Bleu in 2008. Born in Allahé, Benin, Stéphan began his career in Cotonou with Benin Premier League side Reqins de l’Atlantique.
On the radar of numerous clubs due to his success in France with Le Mans, he joined PSG for a fee in the range of €8-10m. In 2010, he accused club manager, Antoine Kombouaré for insulting him during a tete-a-tete leading to his move to Sunderland. PSG got €6m from the English club.
MODESTE M’BAMI (101 apps)
Yaounde born, Modeste joined PSG in 2003 from another French club, Sedan. He joined PSG for €5m as Sedan got relegated. An Olympic gold winner in 2000 with Cameroon, he joined Marseille in 2006. He lifted the Coupe du France in 2004 and 2006.