Ace Football presents a detailed list of the African players to have starred in the French top-flight.
Ligue 1 has always been a gateway for African talents to break into European football. Many African players, especially those from French-speaking regions, have risen to prominence while playing for Ligue 1 sides.
So let’s take a look at the best African players to have played in Ligue 1.
5- Didier Drogba 🇨🇮
One of the most decorated African players of all time, Drogba started his career at French side Vannes. The Ivorians’ subsequent spells at Le Mans and Guingamp convinced Marseille to sign him in 2003.
At Stade Vélodrome, Drogba quickly developed into one of the Ligue 1’s best strikers. He went on to make 55 appearances for the Olympians, scoring 32 goals and providing seven assists.
In 2004, Drogba became UEFA Cup’s top scorer and also won the Marseille’s Player of the Year award. His reputation in Ligue 1 attracted interest from several elite clubs, with Chelsea eventually prizing him away ahead of their 2004-05 campaign.
4- Salif Keita 🇲🇱
Keita spent most of his teenage years playing for different Malian clubs. However, a move to Saint-Etienne finally helped him earn his reputation in European football.
Keita went on to become one of the greatest legends in the history of the Greens. As part of Saint-Etienne’s legendary team of the late 60s, Keita won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 1968 to 1970. They also won the French Cup in 1968 and 1970, thanks to their unstoppable attacking line.
Keita became the first winner of the African Footballer of the Year award when he won the award in 1970. To this day, he is still the only Malian star to have won the prestigious award.
Saint-Ettiene tried to force Keita to assume French nationality. However, the Malian refused to accept and left the club in 1972, joining their league rivals Marseille. After spending only a year at his new club, Keita left Ligue 1 to continue his career at Valencia.
3- Mamadou Niang 🇸🇳
After starting his career at Troyes, Niang joined Strasbourg with hopes of getting first-team football in 2003. However, he did not remain too long at the club, leaving the club two years later to join Marseille.
During his ten-year stay at Stade Vélodrome, Niang scored 100 goals and provided 36 assists in his 227 games for Marseille. The Senegal star became Ligue 1’s top scorer in 2010, after helping Marseille win the league in their 2009-10 campaign. Having already won a French league cup with Strasbourg, Niang won the tournament again at the end of that season.
A shock move to Turkish side Fenerbahce brought Niang’s time in Ligue 1 to an abrupt end in August 2010. He returned to France to play for Arles and Athletic Marseille during the final stages of his career before retiring in 2018.
2- Abédi Pelé 🇬🇭
Another Marseille legend, Abedi Pele, is widely considered among the best African players of all time. The Ghana great started his career in France by joining Chamois Niort in 1986.
After an unsuccessful transfer to Mulhouse, Pele eventually joined Marseille in 1988. He went on loan to Lille for a year and then came back to become a crucial part of the Olympians’ squad.
The Ghanaian midfielder went on to make 147 appearances at Marseille. He won three consecutive African Footballer of the Year awards while playing for the club.
Being part of Marseille’s ‘Magical Trio’ alongside Jean-Pierre Papin and Chris Waddle, Pele won the Champions League in 1993. It came after a period of domestic dominance, which saw the club claiming three consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 1989 to 1992. Pele left Marseille to join Lyon for a short spell before ending his Ligue 1 career and moving to Torino in 1994.
1- George Weah 🇱🇷
Credit: EurosportGeorge Weah is the greatest African star to have played in Ligue 1. Most of the fans remember Weah for his legendary spell at AC Milan. However, he enjoyed successful years at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Serie A.
The only African to have won the Ballon d’Or did not claim his prize while playing for PSG. However, he won the Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year in his final season at the club.
It came after becoming the Champions League top scorer in the 1994-95 campaign. Weah won the Ligue 1 with the Parisians in 94 while also claiming two Coup de Frances at the club. However, he had already won the trophy once with Monaco in 1991.
In his 133 appearances for PSG, Weah scored 50 goals. His performances convinced European powerhouses to pursue his signature in the mid-90s. AC Milan were the lucky club to sign Weah ahead of the 1995-96 season.
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about George Weah
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
