Achraf Hakimi equals Samuel Eto’o in historic Champions League appearance list

Achraf Hakimi has drawn level with Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o after making his 78th appearance in the UEFA Champions League, moving joint-third among Africa’s most experienced players in the competition.

The Paris Saint-Germain captain started Wednesday evening’s opening league-phase match against Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava after being selected by head coach Luis Enrique.

Hakimi’s appearance took him to 78 Champions League games, a total he has reached while representing four clubs. The Morocco international has played in the competition for Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

According to Stats Foot, Hakimi is now joint-third in the all-time list of African players with the most Champions League appearances. He shares that position with former Cameroon international Eto’o, who represented several leading European clubs during his career, including Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah leads the ranking with 98 appearances. The list identifies Salah as a former Liverpool player and current Trabzonspor player from Turkey.

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is second on 92 appearances, six behind Salah and 14 ahead of Hakimi and Eto’o.

The latest figures place Hakimi among a group of African players who have made a significant mark on European football’s leading club competition. His total has been accumulated across spells in Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

The ranking is:

– 98 – Mohamed Salah, Egypt – 92 – Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast – 78 – Samuel Eto’o, Cameroon – 78 – Achraf Hakimi, Morocco

Hakimi’s start against Slovan Bratislava also underlined his continuing importance to Paris Saint-Germain under Luis Enrique. The defender, who captains the French club, was included from the beginning as Paris Saint-Germain opened its league-phase campaign.

His Champions League record has been built with four different clubs. He began his involvement in the competition with Real Madrid before also featuring for Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, and later continuing his European campaign with Paris Saint-Germain.

Eto’o reached his 78-match total during a career that included Real Madrid and Barcelona, while Drogba established his tally largely during his time as one of Chelsea’s leading forwards. Salah’s 98 appearances leave him at the top of the African standings listed by Stats Foot, ahead of the former Ivory Coast striker.

Hakimi’s latest appearance therefore places him level with one of the most decorated African forwards in Champions League history and within reach of Drogba’s second-place total.