Top 10 African footballers of the past decade

Liverpool FC v Sheffield United - Premier League
Liverpool FC v Sheffield United - Premier League

9. Emmanuel Adebayor

Burkina Faso v Togo - 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-Final
Burkina Faso v Togo - 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-Final

Emmanuel Adebayor followed the footsteps of his idol, Nigerian international Kanu Nwankwo, a man he shared so much resemblance with to play for Arsenal. Despite a shaky start to his Arsenal career, he ended up with 46 goals in 104 appearances. A big-money move to Manchester City followed where he went on loan spells to Real Madrid and then Tottenham Hotspur with whom he signed for permanently. He spent a further year in London with Palace before seeing out the rest of his career in Turkey.

He is the only player in Premier League history to score a hattrick home and away against the same side in a season after he came off the bench to score 3 goals against Derby County in 2007.

He is Togo’s all-time leading goal scorer with 32 goals in 87 caps and was awarded the African Footballer of the Year in 2008.

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