The UEFA Europa League competition may not be as prestigious as the UEFA Champions League but it sure is competitive and lucrative. While many have dubbed it “Thursday Night Football” with less importance than the Champions League, its thrill cannot be underplayed.
Africa has produced world-class players that have graced Europe’s secondary club competition and some have been lucky enough to bag the Europa League trophy. We take a look down the memory lane and highlight the top five of Africa’s greatest winners of the Europa League
5. Victor Moses
Nigerian international Moses barely played competitive football at his parent club Chelsea as he was on the club’s loan list most of the time. It was until the reign of head coach Antonio Conte that Moses cemented himself in the Blues’ squad in the 2026/17 season when the London-based club clinched their only fifth Premier League title.
Moses joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2012 and barely a year later was part of the squad that won the Europa League title in 2013, having featured in only 10 matches for the West Londoners.
Top 5 African football stars to win UEFA Europa League – Victor Moses. Photo: Africa Top Sports
The Super Eagles player was part of the team that won the trophy as well in 2019.
4. Taribo West
West is among the greatest African stars to have graced the game. He won plenty of accolades in his professional career years but took a dip too soon. He represented his native country Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups and bagged an Olympic gold medal with the Super Eagles.
Top 5 African football stars to win UEFA Europa League – Taribo West. Photo: Getty Images
The AJ Auxerre defender won the French Cup and two French Cups. In 1998, West was part of the squad that won the UEFA Cup with Italian Serie A team Internazionale, defeating Lazio 3 0 in the finals.
3. Freddie Kanoute
Kanoute’s professional football career flourished during his spell at Spanish outfit Sevilla, clinching two UEFA Cups. He won the Europa League in 2006 and 2007, becoming the only African legend to win the competition in back-to-back victories.
Top 5 African football stars to win UEFA Europa League – Freddie Kanoute. Photo: Getty Images
2. John Obi Mikel
An authoritative figure in the middle of the park, Mikel was part of the Premier League club Chelsea squad that won the 2013 Europa League title.
The Super Eagles midfielder had won the UEFA Champions League trophy with the Blues the previous year as they beat Bayern Munich.
Top 5 African football stars to win UEFA Europa League – John Obi Mikel. Photo: Getty Images
Nigeria international Mikel played for the Blues for over ten seasons before agreeing to a move to Stoke City, where he spent the 2020/21 season.
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Nwankwo Kanu
Kanu was part of the Internazionale squad that won the 1998 Europa League trophy – alongside Taribo West. He became the first African player to win both Europe’s top-flight competition cups – Champions League and Europa League – when he won the latter in Paris.
Top 5 African football stars to win UEFA Europa League – Nwankwo Kanu. Photo: Getty Images
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