{"id":1063,"date":"2018-06-23T15:47:43","date_gmt":"2018-06-23T10:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/?p=1063"},"modified":"2018-06-23T15:57:24","modified_gmt":"2018-06-23T10:27:24","slug":"tribe-top-5-african-players-in-world-cup-2018-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/2018\/06\/23\/tribe-top-5-african-players-in-world-cup-2018-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribe Top 5 African Players in World Cup 2018 Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Africa and football has a long history, and African nations are known for their quality of play. While everyone knows that Africa houses some great football talent, the World Cup might just make us witness some great action. Which of these players are you looking forward to playing the most?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>1.Kelechi Iheanacho<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1065\" src=\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/RagnarSigurdssonKelechiIheanachoNigeriaAZnK_7Zwxwnl-600x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Leicester then splashed out \u00a325million to sign him in August and last season he bagged ten goals in 34 games for club and country despite a niggling foot injury.<\/p>\n<p>Now he is ready to showcase his talents after being told eight years ago he would grace the 2018 World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Having represented the Super Eagles 14 times in the senior level already, this 21-year-old striker is deemed to be one of Africa\u2019s brightest young players.<\/p>\n<p>His trio with OdionIghalo and Victor Mosses has been a key to Nigeria\u2019s dominance in the qualifiers having lost only once in the campaign. His stellar performance for his nation, 9 goals in 13 appearances, promises a performance worth watching out for in Moscow.<\/p>\n<p>Iheanacho came on as a substitute in their first game in their 2-0 loss to Croatia but was impressive alongside Musa as he started in the playing XI against Iceland in Nigeria 2-0 win. Iheanacho\u00a0has been crucial in Nigeria&#8217;s changed 3-5-2 formation and\u00a0 would be looking forward to another stellar attacking display against Argentina to secure a ticket to the round of 16 from the dreaded Group D.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>2.Kalidou Koulibaly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1066\" src=\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/Group-H-Poland-vs-Senegal-Spartak-Stadium-Moscow-Russia-June-19-2018-Polands-Kamil-Grosicki-in-action-with-Senegals-Kalidou-Koulibaly-REUTERS-Carl-Recine-770x433-730x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"164\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Senegal\u2019s hopes of another World Cup quarter-final rest on defensive solidity from Kalidou Koulibaly alongside moments of magic from Sadio Man\u00e9. You know this central back from his fantastic season at his club, Napoli.<\/p>\n<p>Those who have watched Koulibaly at the heart of Napoli\u2019s defence this season will not have been surprised by the 26-year-old\u2019s impressive performance. He has been outstanding for Sarri\u2019s team this season, providing the rock-solid foundation on which the team\u2019s breathtakingly intricate attacking football is based. He was also responsible for the most exciting moment of their season \u2013 scoring a dramatic late header against Juventus to blow the Scudetto title race wide open \u2013 only for Napoli to drop points in their next two games and eventually finish second.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline-block inline-readmore align-right\"><\/aside>\n<p>Having scored 4 times for Napoli this season, this towering defender is also a threat at the other end. His calm yet commanding presence at the back made him a front-runner of the African Player of the Year, only losing out to the impeccable Mohamed Salah.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rniWiuC1\">\n<p><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5089981496810613\" data-ad-slot=\"4727903770\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\"><ins id=\"aswift_3_expand\"><ins id=\"aswift_3_anchor\"><\/ins><\/ins><\/ins>No wonder, Koulibaly will be quite a treat to watch when Senegal battles out in June.These talents were on full display in Moscow against Poland.\u00a0Koulibaly had numerous opportunities to demonstrate his passing ability, while he impressed coping with Poland\u2019s aerial threat.<\/p>\n<p>In short, it was a display that demonstrated perfectly why he would surely excel in the Premier League. Against Poland, Koulibaly got the basics right: confident under the high ball, dragging his team-mates into position and marshalling Lewandowski throughout.<\/p>\n<p>Factor in the more expansive, elaborate side of his game that he has exhibited in the Serie A this season, and it becomes clear why clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been linked with a \u00a360m move.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline-block inline-readmore align-right\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>3.Sadio Mane<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1067\" src=\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/Poland-vs-Senegal-LIVE-976424.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"590\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/Poland-vs-Senegal-LIVE-976424.jpg 590w, https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/Poland-vs-Senegal-LIVE-976424-350x208.jpg 350w, https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/Poland-vs-Senegal-LIVE-976424-560x332.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mane is expected to be the star player in Senegal\u2019s line up in Russia. Amendments are in order for the missed penalty at the African Nations Cup last year from the winger,\u00a0 which would be enough motivation to the Liverpool star to dazzle on the field.<\/p>\n<p>Having thoroughly established himself, this 25-year-old managed to score 14 times with 8 assists in just 29 appearances for the Reds.<\/p>\n<p>Playing on the left flank of a four-man midfield, Mane wasn&#8217;t really a factor in this game, a different role to the one he&#8217;s excelled in for Liverpool, and often found himself helping out the Senegal defence.<\/p>\n<p>Their more penetrative attacks against Poland came courtesy of Niang or Ismaila Sarr from the right and centre, rather than Mane from the left. The flip side of that is that tougher tests will lie ahead, and Mane will need to play better if Senegal are to have a good World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>With Mane bringing his best form to Russia, Senegal might exceed expectations in Russia to qualify from Group H as they face an unpredictable Japan and woeful Columbia next.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>4.Mohamed Salah<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1068\" src=\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/koq2zgrtce0ullpwdwf5-730x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"164\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For the past 11 months, Mo Salah is playing the best football of his life. The African Player of the Year netted an exhilarating 35 times in 39 appearances for Liverpool and 33 times in 57 appearances for his nation.<\/p>\n<p>Salah, the Liverpool star whose damaged shoulder had become the world\u2019s most obsessed-over body part, had the unenviable task on Tuesday of trying to halt the momentum of a surging Russian team in his first game since he was injured in the Champions League final last month that forced him out of playing XI for Egypt&#8217;s first game in their 1-0 loss to Uruguay.<\/p>\n<p>But Salah featured in Egypt&#8217;s second game against Russia where\u00a0Salah did finally muster a response, drawing a penalty in the 72nd minute and burying the kick from the spot. But on a day when he was not fully fit, that was hardly enough to turn the match around..In the end, even the mighty Mohamed Salah could not shake Egypt free from its World Cup debacle after being condemned to a 3-1 defeat against hosts Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Salah and Egypt are now left with dreams of what might have been. With two losses in two games here, they have virtually no chance of advancing to the knockout round. All that remains, most likely, is a final group-stage match against Saudi Arabia on Monday where we might see a glimpse of Salah&#8217;s virtuoso on the football field.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">5.<span class=\"article__long-title\">Medhi Benatia\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1069\" src=\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2018\/06\/gettyimages-980153574-730x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"164\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Juventus defender and captain of Morocco, Medhi Benatia is one of the top ten defenders in the World. He has been nominated by France football as the best Maghrebian player in many occasions. Benatia has always been proud of representing Morocco and showing the national flag of his country during the celebrations with his team. Started in France, he made a name for himself in Italy before playing for Bayern. Back in Series A, despite an injury last year, he managed a very good start to the season within the Juventus. This year at Juve, Benatia is the champion of Italy and one of the best defenders to be watched in the World cup.<\/p>\n<p>Medhi Benatia has been put up for sale by Juventus and Arsenal are reportedly ready to meet the defender\u2019s release clause. The centre-back is currently recovering from the disappointment of being dumped off the World Cup after two defeats in Morocco\u2019s opening two games despite putting up a stellar show. Two 1-0 defeats have been a harsh predicament for the\u00a0Lions de l&#8217;Atlas where they could have come out with a win and a draw against Iran and Portugal<\/p>\n<p>Morocco plays Spain in their final group game, and Benatia will have a chance to impress fans and interested clubs before making a decision about his club future once he returns from the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Africa and football has a long history, and African nations are known for their quality of play. While everyone knows that Africa houses some great football talent, the World Cup might just make us witness some great action. Which of these players are you looking forward to playing the most? 1.Kelechi Iheanacho Leicester then splashed out \u00a325million to sign him in August and last season he bagged ten goals in 34 games for club and country despite a niggling foot injury. Now he is ready to showcase his talents after being told eight years ago he would grace the 2018 World Cup. Having represented the Super Eagles 14 times in &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/2018\/06\/23\/tribe-top-5-african-players-in-world-cup-2018-russia\/\" class=\"tribe-more-link\">Continue reading &#8220;Tribe Top 5 African Players in World Cup 2018 Russia&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":1072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[424,422,423,335,146,135],"class_list":["post-1063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-kalidou-koulibaly","tag-kelechi-iheanacho","tag-medhi-benatia","tag-mohamed-salah","tag-sadio-mane","tag-world-cup-2018"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1063\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/india\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}