Two of Africa’s finest on display as Leicester face Southampton this weekend

Two of Africa’s finest on display as Leicester face Southampton this weekend

0
SHARE

Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane are vital players in the fortunes of their respective clubs this season. As Southampton play host to Leicester City this weekend, fans will be treated to performances from two of Africa’s best players.

The shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year was released this past Sunday, with both Mahrez and Mane making the 37-man (not so short) list. Both players, however, will be seriously considered for the award, along with last year’s winner Yacine Brahimi, Vincent Enyeama, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mehdi Benatia and four-time winner Yaya Toure.

Appropriately, the result of the upcoming clash between the Saints and the Foxes will largely hinge on the showings from each player.

Mane has shown terrific form in recent weeks, picking up from where he left-off at the end of his debut season with the Saints. The Senegalese has two goals and has set up four more so far this term, with both goals and two of those assists coming in the last three games.

For this weekend’s visitors, Mahrez has been one of the star performers in the League in a breakout early stage for Ranieri’s men. Despite missing the last match, the Algerian has scored five goals and assisted three, at times an unplayable force for defenders.

As if to illustrate this point, in the last time the two teams met it was Mahrez’s brace that sealed all three points in May, during the purple patch that the Foxes experienced at the back end of the season.

Both players are very quick and direct, possessing a keen eye for a key pass and a goal. If the game is to be played in the free-flowing manner one would expect of these two teams, then the admission price to St Mary’s will be well worth it. Mane famously scored the fastest ever Premier League hat-trick last season, netting his three goals in the space of an exhilarating two minutes and 56 seconds.

The predictable speculation regarding the futures of the African flyers also bear similarities. Mane was linked with a potential move to Manchester United throughout the previous transfer window, while Mahrez (although seemingly farfetched) was linked to Catalan giants Barcelona.

Following the continued form of the two these rumours have persisted, with the Southampton winger again linked to United in January. Arsenal are reportedly interested in Mahrez and are set to ‘rival’ Barcelona for the Algerian’s signature, if the rumours are to be believed. It will be a test for both clubs to retain their talented Africans.

Both are a testament to the scouting at their respective current clubs. Mahrez has proved to be immense value for money for the Foxes, costing a mere £400,000 from Ligue 2 outfit Le Havre. If they do choose to cash in, he will represent a mammoth return on investment.

Mane, on the other hand, moved from Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg. Hardly a household name outside of Austria or his native Senegal, he was signed for a fee rumoured to be around £12 million. While costing significantly more than Mahrez, it is a signature that has proven to be money well spent for the Saints, during a period in which many of their best players had been pillaged by other Premier League clubs (particularly Liverpool).

The recent successes of each side in seemingly climbing out of any relegation concerns can be typified by both Mahrez and Mane, in that Southampton and Leicester have done so by scoring goals and taking on much more fancied opposition with no fear. Both now have an identifiable brand of football, which can cause opposing managers more headaches than merely having to find a way to break down a parked bus.

[interaction id=”561d240c47771a9960dd0dee”]

The fixture at St Mary’s should prove to be one of the highlights of the weekend’s action, largely because of the African attackers on show. Neutral observers at home would be well advised to tune in, as the likelihood of a dull bore is negligible.

Spare a thought for Ritchie De Laet and Ryan Bertrand though, the two men that are no doubt least looking forward to the contest.

What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.