As the group stage of the UEFA Champions League kicks off, Paris Saint-Germain faces Olympiakos Piraeus in Greece, and there’s a growing African influence in the Greek club. Here are some of the new stars from Africa playing for Olympiakos:
- Gaétan Bong (Cameroon): A defender who was with Valenciennes until the previous June, Bong made the move to Olympiakos one week before the end of the transfer window. Financial considerations played a role in his decision, and while he is new to the Champions League with Olympiakos, his experience and skill are expected to contribute quickly.
- Sambou Yatabaré (Mali): Yatabaré started the season with Bastia before taking on the Greek challenge with Olympiakos. An attacking midfielder, he is relatively unknown to the public but aims to make an impact in the prestigious Champions League.
- Delvin Ndinga (Congo): Ndinga is the only one among the four Africans who has prior experience in the Champions League. He faced the likes of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho three years ago with AJ Auxerre. Since then, he moved to AS Monaco but sought playing time elsewhere, leading him to Olympiakos.
- Carl Medjani (Algeria): Medjani joined Olympiakos after feeling limited in Monaco, which had become a club of wealth. A versatile defender, he has an impressive trajectory, having played for Ajaccio and later joining Monaco in January 2013. His decision to join Olympiakos was influenced by Christian Karembeu, the new sports boss of the Greek club.
The match also serves as a reunion between former Ligue 1 players and PSG, with Saviola (formerly of Monaco), Machdo (formerly of Toulouse), and Joel Campbell (formerly of Lorient) now playing for Olympiakos.
