Years back African footballers were paid meagre amounts by their respective clubs.
In recent times, things have changed. African players are making their mark in the world when it comes to football and receiving worthy amounts to play.
Africa as a continent is endowed with players with amazing talents. Every African kid especially the males in one way or the other play football for leisure.
A few take it seriously by joining a colts club or lately an academy to polish their inherent skills.
A few out of the people with the zeal to play football to the highest level are however, able to get the breakthrough by playing for some of the giants in their country, with the anticipation of landing a lucrative contract in the future.
From Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah’s contribution to Liverpool’s EPL win this season to Alphonso Davies being instrumental in Bayern Munich’s championship win, African players have proved that they deserve every penny paid them.
We, therefore look at the five highest-paid African players for 2020.
1. Cedric Bakambu – Beijing Guoan (£307,000 per week)
Were you expecting the highest paid to be from a European League? Sorry to disappoint you.
Cedric Bakambu moved to the Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan in February 2018 from Villarreal at a fee of £65 million. This makes him the most expensive African footballer.
The Democratic Republic of Congo international earns £307,000 per week.
The striker is also the third highest-paid player in the Chinese Super league. The Brazilian duo of Oscar and Hulk are the only two earning more than him.
2. Mohammed Salah – Liverpool (£200,000 per week)
The Egyptian popularly referred to as Mo Salah has been very instrumental in Liverpool since he arrived three seasons ago.
Salah is currently paid £200,000 per week at Liverpool. He has contributed greatly to the feats achieved by Liverpool since he arrived at the Club.
He was named the African Footballer of the Year for 2018. He also became the first African to score 30 goals in a Premier League season in his first season at Anfield. The Egyptian forward is not just one of the best players in the English Premier League, he is also one of the best wingers in the world.
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Arsenal (£200,000 per week)
Aubameyang joined Arsenal in 2018 from Borussia Dortmund. He signed a deal worth £56 million making him one of the top-earning Africans in Europe. The Gabonese forward Aubameyang earns about £200,000 weekly at Arsenal.
4. Odion Ighalo – Shanghai Greenland Shenhua /Manchester United (£190,000 per week)
Ighalo is currently the highest-paid Nigeria player. He is currently on loan at Manchester United. He earns £190,000 in a week. He was reportedly taking home £300,000 per week in China.
5. Sadio Mane – Liverpool (£150,000 per week)
He is paid £150,000 a week in Liverpool.
The Senegalese winger has been in spectacular form this season for Liverpool.
