In a recent interview on Talksport, former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni stirred up controversy by questioning the world-class status of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Aiyegbeni, who holds the fifth position among African Premier League goal scorers, pointed out that players like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Jay Jay Okocha, and Sadio Mane surpass Salah in skill and performance.
“Salah is not world-class in my opinion. He lacks ball control, and many of his goals are simply fortuitous,” Aiyegbeni expressed candidly. The football veteran highlighted legends such as Okocha, Drogba, Kanu, Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Mane as exemplars of African football greatness in the Premier League.
Aiyegbeni’s remarks have sparked a debate among football enthusiasts worldwide, shedding light on the rich African talent that has graced the Premier League over the years. As the football community deliberates on the definition of world-class and reflects on the diverse contributions of African players to the sport, Aiyegbeni’s perspective adds depth to the ongoing discourse on football excellence and skillful prowess on the pitch.
