In two weeks, Europe’s best clubs have faced each other in their quest to book their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Some African players found their way to the starting XI of their clubs and played their parts in their team’s victories and losses.
The likes of Riyad Mahrez, Hakimi Achraf, Bertrand Traoré, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Ghana’s Thomas Partey inspired crucial first-leg wins for their sides.
2019 CAF African Player of the Year, Sadio Mane and his teammates, Mohammed Salah, Naby Keita and Joel Matip were on the losing side.
Some did not feature at all, remaining on the bench for their various teams.
Partey was one of the stars of the first leg matches and drove Atlético Madrid to an important 1-0 win at the Wanda Metropolitano against holders Liverpool. The Ghanaian bossed the midfield as his side held on to victory.
Below is the list of the African players who featured for their teams in the round of 16 1st leg tie:
Sadio Mane – Liverpool, Senegal (Full time).
Mohammed Salah – Liverpool, Egypt (Full time).
Naby Keita – Liverpool, Guinea (Unused sub).
Joel Matip – Liverpool, Cameroon (Unused sub).
Achraf Hakimi – Borussia Dortmund, Morocco (Full time).
Idrissa Gana Gueye – PSG, Senegal (Full time)
Thomas Partey – Atlético Madrid, Ghana (Full time)
Serge Aurier – Tottenham Hotspurs, Ivory Coast (Full time)
Karl Toko Ekambi – Lyon, Cameroon (Played 66 minutes)
Bertrand Traoré – Lyon, Burkina Faso (Unused sub)
Riyad Mahrez – Manchester City, Algeria (Full time).
