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So far, the 2021-22 season has been one of impressive performances from African strikers across Europe from the English Premier League to the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and Eredivisie.
Some of the best players in Europe's top competitions are Africans, a massive improvement for the continent in terms of performance on the bigger stages. African forwards like Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba and a number of others have dominated Europe in the past, but there was a lean spell after their retirement.
However, there is plenty of promise now with the current generation. Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has emerged as the torch-bearer and is one of the deadliest forwards in the world, scoring at an alarming frequency. Together with Sadio Mane as starters for Liverpool, he won the Premier league and UEFA Champions League.
For the current season, here is a list of the five most prolific African forwards in Europe right now:
#5 Victor Osimhen
Africa's most expensive player ever, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, endured a forgettable first season for the Partenopei after joining for €70 million from Lille. As a teenager, Osimhen set the record for the most goals in a single FIFA U17 World Cup tournament, but struggled to live up to expectations for long.
The 22-year-old Nigerian was still finding his feet in the Serie A when he contracted COVID-19. Upon his recovery from the virus, he picked up a freak shoulder injury that kept him out for a large chunk of the season. Osimhen ended the 2020-21 season well and has carried that form into the ongoing campaign.
He has scored five goals in 11 Serie A appearances and four in three appearances in the UEFA Europa League. The Nigerian striker has become quite indispensable to Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti due to his unique skillset.
#4 Taiwo Awoniyi
Another Nigerian striker comes in at fourth place on the list. Former Liverpool youngster Taiwo Awoniyi is another whose talent was unearthed during the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup for Nigeria.
The then-youngster moved to Liverpool before being farmed out on successive loan spells due to his inability to secure a work permit. Awoniyi had a number of average loan spells before securing a permanent move to FC Union Berlin this summer.
The 24-year-old has scored eight Bundesliga goals this season, putting him behind only Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland in the division. He also has two goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League and one in the DFB Pokal for Die Eisernen.
#3 Sadio Mane
Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has been one of the world's most prolific wingers since completing a switch from Southampton to Liverpool in the Premier League.
The Senegalese star is second on the Premier League scoring charts this season with seven goals for the Reds. Mane became the third African to score 100 goals in the Premier League this season after Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah.
Mane has scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League as well, taking his tally to nine in 17 appearances in all competitions this term.
The 29-year-old is one of the most dangerous forwards in all of Europe at present for his contribution to Liverpool's attack.
#2 Sebastien Haller
Ivorian striker Sebastien Haller endured a nightmare spell in the Premier League with West Ham United before a move to Ajax in the Eredivisie revitalized his career.
Haller came to prominence for his performance at Eintracht Frankfurt alongside Luka Jovic during the 2018-19 season.
This season, the center forward broke Samuel Eto'o's longstanding record for the the number of goals scored by an African in a single UEFA Champions League group stage campaign.
Haller has scored nine goals in five Champions League appearances and another nine in the league, taking his tally to 18 in 19 appearances across all competitions. The former France youth international has been a revelation for Ajax in what is his debut UEFA Champions League season.
Haller missed out on a place in Ajax's Europa League squad last season after his name was omitted due to an administrative error following his mid-season transfer from West Ham. The striker has made up for lost time with his performances this season.
#1 Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian king, who cannot stop scoring, Mohamed Salah is on a terrific run of form for Liverpool this season and has witnessed it being significantly rewarded.
The forward broke Didier Drogba's record for most goals scored by an African in the Premier League and has gone on to score quite a few more since then.
Salah has scored 11 goals and assisted seven more in only 12 league appearances for Liverpool this season. He has also scored six times in the UEFA Champions League for the Reds.
Salah's impressive form has seen him get nominated for the FIFA Best Men's Player and Ballon d'Or awards for 2021. Undoubtedly, he is one of the best players in the world right now.
