The Europa League final between Chelsea and Benfica showcased several players of African origin.
For Chelsea, Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel, who has been with the club for 7 years, has a wealth of experience in such high-stakes matches. Though recently recovering from injury, Mikel’s involvement in the final was uncertain. Another Nigerian, Victor Moses, has been a decisive force in the Europa League, scoring 4 goals in Chelsea’s last 4 matches in the competition. With Demba Ba and Eden Hazard absent, Moses had a chance to feature in the starting eleven.
Benfica had Ola John, a Dutch player of Liberian origin, in their squad. John, an attacking midfielder, posed a threat to Chelsea’s defense and added excitement to the final.
