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African footballers have earned strong representation in the 2026 ESPN FC 100. Nine players representing African national teams were included in the project’s positional rankings. Among them are Achraf Hakimi, Antoine Semenyo, Bryan Mbeumo, Ademola Lookman, Yan Diomande, Ismaïla Sarr and Victor Osimhen.
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Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo in the Premier League
Manchester City signed Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo in January 2026. However, he is adapting outside Pep Guardiola's system. After Enzo Maresca took over in the summer, the Ghanaian winger rapidly became an integral part of his offensive setup.
Since the move, Semenyo has 34 City appearances in all competitions, scoring 13 goals and six assists. He has scored twice and contributed three assists in the first five rounds of the Premier League without missing a minute. Semenyo was 11th in ESPN's FC 100 winger rankings. The logic is apparent. In 2025/26, he scored 17 Premier League goals for Bournemouth and Manchester City, trailing only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago. The Ghanaian's power, speed, and versatility allow Maresca to employ him beyond a wide winger.
Bryan Mbeumo is already in his second season with Manchester United. In the summer of 2025, the Manchester club signed him from Brentford for £65 million, with another £6 million potentially due in bonuses. He ended his first year with 12 goals in all competitions and shared top spot among the team’s leading scorers. Mbeumo has begun the current league campaign with two goals and one assist in five Premier League appearances. His pace, however, remains intact. During the opening rounds, the Cameroonian reached 35.36 km/h and ranked among the fastest players in the league. For a team that regularly looks to exploit space in transitions from defence to attack, that quality is particularly valuable.
Yan Diomande and Ademola Lookman in Spain
Yan Diomande became one of Real Madrid’s most notable young signings in the summer of 2026. The Madrid club reached an agreement with RB Leipzig and signed the Ivorian to a contract running until June 2033. Real Madrid’s official profile lists Diomande as a forward, while his natural position is on the wing, where he takes players on through pace and dribbling.
In Germany, Yan Diomande made his name precisely through his attacking qualities:
scored 12 goals in the 2025/26 season;
provided eight assists for Leipzig;
won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award;
stood out for the number of one-on-one dribbling attempts.
His start in Spain has been quieter. Across seven La Liga matches, Diomande has played 280 minutes, with no goals and one assist so far. In all competitions for Real Madrid, he has made eight appearances and recorded a single assist.
Ademola Lookman arrived in Madrid earlier. Atlético and Atalanta agreed a permanent transfer in February 2026, after which the Nigerian signed a contract through 2030. He can operate on either flank or behind the central striker, which fits well with the demands of Diego Simeone’s team.
ESPN noted that Lookman adapted to life in Spain almost immediately. During his first months after the move, he recorded 12 goal involvements, while finishing the 2025/26 season with ten goals for Atlético in all competitions. He has one goal after seven matches in the current La Liga campaign. There is no reason, however, to expect a head-to-head meeting between the two players in an October Madrid derby. Atlético and Real Madrid have already played their first league meeting of the season, with Simeone’s side winning 2–1 on 20 September. Their next encounter is not scheduled until spring 2027.
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Serhou Guirassy and Achraf Hakimi
Serhou Guirassy is not one of the nine 2026 FC 100 African footballers, but excluding him would be unusual. The Guinea striker remains a key Borussia Dortmund finisher. Guirassy has two goals and two helpers in four Bundesliga outings.
In contrast, ESPN FC 100 full-back Achraf Hakimi ranks #1. Over time, the Moroccan has evolved beyond the role of a traditional right-back. He helps advance the ball, moves into center areas, and finishes attacks like a forward. ESPN also notes that Hakimi became the first Champions League defender to have five assists in two seasons.
After PSG's second Champions League win in May 2026, Hakimi has 19 major team trophies, more than any other African footballer. The Moroccan started in the August UEFA Super Cup for PSG.
Statistics at the start of the 2026/27 season
Looking specifically at domestic league performances, the figures at the beginning of October are as follows:
| Player | Club | Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antoine Semenyo | Manchester City | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | Manchester United | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Yan Diomande | Real Madrid | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Serhou Guirassy | Borussia Dortmund | 4 | 2 | 2 |
The different number of matches is explained by the league schedules, so it is still too early to compare the raw figures directly. The table does, however, illustrate something else quite clearly. Semenyo is already contributing to City with both goals and assists, Guirassy continues to produce consistently in Germany, Mbeumo is gradually building momentum, while Diomande is still finding his place in a new team.
