Sulley Muntari, Vincent Aboubakar, Odion Ighalo, and the 2 Other African Stars to Play in Saudi

With Cristiano Ronaldo's sensational transfer to Al-Nassr in January, the Saudi Pro League is rapidly becoming the favoured choice for top-tier footballers.

The five-time Ballon d'Or recipient was soon followed by his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, who joined the reigning Saudi champions Al-Ittihad this week. Reports suggest that numerous other stars of their calibre are on the verge of making a move to the Middle East.

However, even before this trend took hold, African talents had already taken the lead in recognising the opportunities the oil-rich nation offers for advancing their careers. Sports Brief takes a look at five of Africa's best exports to the Saudi Pro League:

Abderrazak Hamdallah - Al-Ittihad

While Hamdallah's name may not ring a bell among African football fans who devoutly follow European football, his reputation and standing in Saudi Arabia are akin to that of a deity.

Despite a few missed opportunities during Morocco's World Cup semi-final loss to France, Hamdallah is known for his remarkable accuracy in the Saudi top flight, rarely failing to hit the target.

According to Transfermarkt, the Moroccan striker is Al-Nassr’s second all-time top scorer, is tenth overall in Saudi Pro League history, and has netted a whopping 38 goals in 46 appearances for Al-Ittihad.

Odion Ighalo - Al-Hilal

Unlike Hamdallah, Ighalo enjoyed a bittersweet stint in Europe, scoring goals at sixes and sevens for Watford, but eventually, his well ran dry. This was evidenced in his brief spell with Manchester United, where he failed to score a single Premier League goal. Regardless, the Nigerian forward knows where the net is in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo's Al-Nassr side fail in their quest to land the Saudi Arabia Pro League

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As reported by GOAL, the 33-year-old is set to bring his one-and-half-year stint with Al-Hilal to an end after the season. Nonetheless, his time in the Gulf state has been hugely successful - he won the Saudi Pro League and King Cup while finishing as a runner-up at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.

Overall, Ighalo, who won the top scorer's prize in his first year with Al-Hilal, has 50 goal contributions - 43 goals and seven assists - in 60 appearances.

Ahmed Musa - Al-Nassr

Ahmed Musa, a distinguished Nigerian football icon, once showcased his talent in Saudi Arabia. With a knack for delivering his best performances, especially on the grand stage of the FIFA World Cup, Musa stands out as one of Africa's most notable exports to the Saudi Pro League.

During the 2019 season, Musa proudly donned the Al-Nassr jersey, contributing to their remarkable triumphs in the Saudi Premier League, which remains their most recent championship, and the Saudi Super Cup.

Blessed with extraordinary speed and an exceptional work ethic, Musa holds the title of being the most capped player in the history of the Super Eagles. Currently, he continues to exhibit his skills as part of the Sivasspor team in the Turkish League.

Vincent Aboubakar - Al-Nassr

Despite his impressive performances with the Cameroon men's national team, Aboubakar's tenure in Saudi Arabia is often remembered as the sacrifice made to facilitate the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al-Nassr.

Aboubakar made the switch to Al-Nassr in July 2021 from Besiktas. According to talkSPORT, Ronaldo attempted to persuade him against leaving Saudi Arabia, but his efforts proved unsuccessful.

Although he struggled to find his scoring touch at Al-Nassr, the 31-year-old has experienced a remarkable resurgence in Turkey, where he currently plays for the Black Eagles. With an impressive tally of 13 goals in 16 matches, Aboubakar has been consistently finding the back of the net since his return.

Sulley Muntari - Al-Ittihad

The most accomplished name on this list is former Ghana international, Sulley Ali Muntari. The 2010 Champions League winner spent two-thirds of his playing career in Italy and represented Al-Ittihad during his time in Saudi Arabia.

During his time with the Tigers, the 38-year-old midfielder spent a single season there before returning to Italy due to the club's financial crisis. Unpaid wages prompted Muntari to take the Saudi giants to FIFA for resolution.

Muntari's exceptional intelligence and impeccable technical prowess made him a standout during his active days as a footballer. His remarkable passing ability and accurate long-range shooting with his magical left foot showcase his immense skills on the field.