Top 5 Best African Players in Europe’s Best Leagues in 2023/24, Victor Boniface Leads

• African footballers made their mark in Europe's top five leagues in 2023/24
• Newcomer, Victor Boniface, outperformed his compatriot, Victor Osimhen
• Sports Brief ranked the top five best African performers in Europe this season

Most of Europe's top five leagues ended this past weekend.

African footballers represented the continent well throughout the season, breaking records, scoring incredible goals and making vital contributions to their respective teams.

Last season, Osimhen was by far the best African player in Europe; this season, the Nigerian striker has struggled.

In Germany, several African stars, led by Victor Boniface, helped Bayer Leverkusen win their first Bundesliga title. Xabi Alonso's team won the league without tasting defeat.

Denmark's World Cup squad: Which players will be booting up for the Danish Dynamites in Qatar?

Football

Manchester City clinched their fourth Premier League title in a row, but they didn't have an African player on their squad. PSG won another title in France, with Morocco's Achraf Hakimi representing Africa.

In Spain, another Moroccan, Brahim Diaz, won La Liga with Real Madrid and might eventually win the Champions League.

Inter Milan produced a magnificent season in Italy to win the Serie A. However, they didn't have an African in their ranks. So, who was the best player in Europe's top 5 league last season? Sports Brief takes a look.

Top 5 best African players in Europe

5. Edmond Tapsoba - Bayer Leverkusen and Burkina Faso

The Burkina Faso centre-back was brilliant for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. He played a key role in their Bundesliga triumph. His partnership with Ivory Coast's Odilon Kossounou and Jonathan Tah provided a solid foundation for the team to challenge for the title.

Zidane's coaching career: Looking at the coaching career of the football legend

Football

Tapsoba has made 44 appearances for Xabi Alonso's team - 28 matches were in the Bundesliga, and he started 23. He has been linked with several top clubs in Europe. A DFB Pokal and Europa League final could see the defender get his hands on an unprecedented treble.

4. Mohamed Salah - Liverpool and Egypt

2023/24 was a quiet season for Salah. Liverpool's Premier League title challenge fell through at the most crucial point of the season, and injury disrupted his form and momentum. Nevertheless, the Egyptian once again produced a decent season. He bagged 25 goals and 14 assists in 44 matches.

The Reds won the League Cup in Jurgen Klopp's last season and returned to the Champions League after missing out last season. The two-time African Footballer of the Year has been Europe's most consistent African player in the last few seasons.

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Marseille and Gabon

2024 rankings Ballon d'Or: Mbappe Bellingham Kane Champions League

Football

Aubameyang experienced some redemption at Marseille last season. After a forgettable spell at Chelsea, he bounced back well. This past season, the 34-year-old registered 34 goals and 11 assists in 51 matches. He was the leading African scorer in Ligue 1.

The Gabonese has now clocked nearly 350 career goals, which is not bad. His numbers last season show what a change of environment can do for a talented player.

2. Serhou Guirassy - Stuttgart and Guinea

Guirassy had a memorable season at Stuttgart. The Guinean exploded after years of below-average performances in France. His 28 Bundesliga goals were the most by an African in 2023/24 in Germany. Only Harry Kane scored more goals than him in the league this season.

His incredible performances saw Stuttgart secure a second-place finish on the final day ahead of giants Bayern Munich, meaning Guirassy will play Champions League football next season.

Xabi Alonso’s Reason for Benching Victor Boniface in Some Bayer Leverkusen’s Matches

Football

1. Victor Boniface - Bayer Leverkusen and Nigeria

There are no superlatives left to describe Boniface's 2023/24 season. He has made 33 appearances and recorded 21 goals and nine assists in all competitions. He was Leverkusen's top scorer in the Bundesliga (14), and he would've gotten more if he hadn't missed nearly four months with injury.

Boniface could be a treble-winner by next week. This week, Alonso's side play Atalanta in the Europa League and Kaiserslautern in the DFB Pokal final. The Nigerian has arguably been the best African player in 2023/24.

Honourable mentions: Victor Osimhen, Mohammed Kudus, Terem Moffi, Nicolas Jackson, Ousmane Diomande.

All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt.

African Footballer of the Year contender

Sports Brief earlier reported on the early contenders for the 2023/24 African Footballer of the Year award.

Boniface topped the list ahead of former winners Osimhen, Salah, and Aubameyang. The Leverkusen forward might have sealed the award.