African players set to make their mark in 2026-27 Champions League

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League will feature 79 African players among the squads of the 36 clubs competing in the league phase, with Morocco the best-represented nation ahead of Senegal.

The figures, compiled by Afrik-Foot from the official squad lists submitted to UEFA, underline the growing presence of African footballers across Europe’s leading clubs. The competition begins on Tuesday, with players from Morocco, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria and 19 other African nations involved.

Morocco has the biggest contingent, with 13 players. Paris Saint-Germain captain Achraf Hakimi is the most prominent name, as the club begins its defence of the trophy it has won in the past two editions.

Hakimi is joined by Morocco internationals playing for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Ayyoub Bouaddi is listed with Manchester City, Brahim Diaz with Real Madrid, Ismael Saibari with Bayern Munich and Noussair Mazraoui with Manchester United.

The Moroccan group also includes Bilal El Khannouss of Stuttgart, Neil El Aynaoui of RB Leipzig, Osame Sahraoui of Lille, Abde Ezzalzouli of Real Betis, Oussama Targhalline and Nassim El Harmouz of Feyenoord, Moncef Zekri of Sporting CP and Ilias Akhomach of Villarreal.

Anass Salah-Eddine, however, was not registered in AS Roma’s squad.

Senegal provide the second-largest group, with 10 representatives. Nicolas Jackson and Ibrahim Mbaye have both moved to Aston Villa, while Iliman Ndiaye completed a transfer to Manchester City.

The other Senegalese players involved are Bara Sapoko Ndiaye of Bayern Munich, Ismail Jakobs of Galatasaray, Mamadou Diakhon of Club Brugge, Assane Diao of Como, Abdallah Sima of Lens, Ibrahima Ba of Sporting CP and Pape Gueye of Villarreal.

Nigeria are next, with nine players. Victor Osimhen, at Galatasaray, and Ademola Lookman, now with Atletico de Madrid, are the headline names. Four of the Super Eagles’ representatives are at Slavia Prague.

Cote d’Ivoire have eight players in the competition. Their squad includes Wilfried Singo of Galatasaray, Amad Diallo of Manchester United, Seko Fofana of Porto, Ange-Yoan Bonny of Inter, Evan N’Dicka of AS Roma, Nicolas Pepe of Villarreal and Toumani Diakite of Slavia Prague.

Yan Diomande, who plays for Real Madrid, is also part of the group and is described as the most expensive African player in history.

Algeria have six representatives, led by Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri. Ramy Bensebaini of Borussia Dortmund, Anis Hadj Moussa of Feyenoord, Yacine Titraoui of Lens, Nabil Bentaleb of Lille and Akim Zedadka of Sabah FK complete the Algerian contingent. Hadj Moussa remained at Feyenoord after his proposed move to Al-Ittihad fell through.

Cameroon are represented by five players: Harold Moukoudi of AEK, Yvan Dibango of LASK, Carlos Baleba and Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United, and Frank Anguissa of Napoli, who has recently retired from international football.

That total is higher than Mali’s four players, Ghana’s three, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s two and Tunisia’s one.

Guinea will have Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund and Sahmkou Camara of Slovan Bratislava. Slovan are coached by former Cote d’Ivoire international Yaya Toure.

African stars across Europe’s elite

The summer transfer window has reshaped the African presence at several leading clubs.

Real Madrid have two African players in their squad: Ivorian forward Yan Diomande and Moroccan international Brahim Diaz. Manchester City have four, namely Algerian Rayan Ait-Nouri, Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi, Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye and Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo.

Bayern Munich’s list includes Morocco’s Ismael Saibari and Senegal’s Bara Sapoko Ndiaye.

Diomande, Saibari, Bouaddi and Ndiaye are among the players who changed clubs during the transfer window before joining high-profile destinations. Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba has also moved to Manchester United, where he is alongside fellow Africans Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo.

Galatasaray, Slovan Bratislava, Sabah FK and Slavia Prague have five African players each, making them the clubs with the largest contingents from the continent. Manchester City and Manchester United follow with four apiece, demonstrating that African players are increasingly central to the squads of Europe’s most prestigious teams.

Four of the 36 clubs have no African player registered: Arsenal, Liverpool, Viking FK and PSV Eindhoven.

PSV have lost Moroccan players Saibari and Couhaib Driouech during the summer, while Liverpool’s absence is particularly notable given the club’s recent success with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Liverpool also attempted to sign Ismaila Sarr and Minteh during the transfer window, but still begin this Champions League campaign without an African representative.

With 79 players from 23 African nations, the 2026-27 Champions League provides another indication of the continent’s importance to European club football.