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Predicting the African stars set to feature in Goal 50 2021

Two African players made the cut for the Goal 50 2020, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane both making the list of Top 25 male players in the world game this year.
Few could dispute that the duo deserve their spots in Goal’s hallowed list following their exploits with Liverpool during their extended title-winning campaign.

In this feature, we look ahead to the Goal 50 2021 and predict which of the continent’s stars are the best bets to compete for a spot in our celebration of the world’s top players.

The Goal 50

Arguably unlucky to have missed out on the 2020 Goal 50, Ziyech appears well placed to make the cut in 12 months’ time.
He has settled into life at Chelsea seamlessly, transferring his form from the Eredivisie and the Champions League to the top flight without breaking a sweat.

He became the first player since Diego Costa to net in his first two starts for the Blues when he scored—and contributed an assist—against Burnley, and was simply irrepressible against Sheffield United at the weekend.

In that match, the Morocco maestro created six goalscoring opportunities—the most by any Premier League player so far this season—and if he continues in this vein, then he’s a real contender for the Goal 50.

Hakim Ziyech

Sticking with the Morocco theme, Hakimi might also fancy his chances of making the cut next year, following in the footsteps of his fellow right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and taking his place in Goal’s list.
Like Ziyech, he’s adapted well to life at a new club and in a new league—in Serie A with Internazionale—where he made decisive contributions from the off and looks set to thrive under Antonio Conte.

Will Hakimi make Real Madrid regret allowing him to leave and inspire Inter to a concerted title challenge this season? If so, then he could he knocking on the door of the Goal 50.

Achraf Hakimi

The highest ranked African player in the Goal 50 2020, Mane crept into the Top 10 after playing an influential role in Liverpool’s title success including goals in victories against Manchester City at home, Leicester City away and the trips to Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
Already we knew he was a big game player—remember that Champions League performance away at Bayern Munich?—and Mane even earned the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award last term.

He’s already started this season strongly, with four goals and an assist in seven league outings, and if he can maintain his strong standards, then he’ll be in the running again.

Sadio Mane

The same rings true for Salah, who already leads the Premier League’s goalscoring charts—level with Son Heung-min—on eight goals from eight matches.
It’s a sensational start for the campaign from a player who hasn’t had a true break for several years, and as long as Salah can avoid injury (like a few other of his Liverpool teammates) he can again stand tall alongside the world’s greatest players.

Will 2021 be the year when Salah gets a move away from Anfield and finally convinces Real Madrid or Barcelona to tempt the Reds with an eye-watering offer!?

Mohamed Salah

It’s early days for Mendy at Chelsea, perhaps, but already his impact has been felt in a Blues backline that was at sixes and sevens during the reign of Kepa Arrizabalaga and before the arrival of calming presence Thiago Silva.
So far, the Senegal stopper is proving to be worth the outlay, having kept five consecutive clean sheets including shut-outs against Manchester United, Sevilla and former club Stade Rennais in the Champions League.

For context, that’s the Londoners’ best defensive record in a decade—since the days of the legendary Petr Cech—and Mendy’s fine work between the sticks means the Blues carry a whiff—whisper it—of title contenders.

Edouard Mendy

Predicting the African stars set to feature in Goal 50 2021 | Goal.com Nigeria

Goal 50: Which of the continent’s stars could be contenders to feature in next year’s ranking of the best players in world football?