At least 30 Africans played some part in matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League, with Nigeria’s Zaidu Sanusi getting on the scoresheet.

Sanusi scored FC Porto’s first goal in their 2-0 win against Olympique Marseille.

Liverpool duo, Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane were denied a celebration of their nomination for the FIFA TheBest Player of the Year award. Both players featured as Liverpool suffered their heaviest defeat at home under Jurgen Klopp, losing 2-0 to Atalanta in Anfield.

Austrian giants, Red Bull Salzburg listed at least four African internationals in their 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich. If Karim Adeyemi, an 18-year old German youth international of Nigerian descent is included, the number of Africans featured in the game will soar to five.

Zambia’s Enoch Mwepu, 22 started the game, while Ghanaian international, Majeed Ashimeru came on in the second half. Malian youngsters, Sekou Koita and Mohammed Kamara also featured in the game with Cameroonian Jerome Onguene not getting a feel of the action.

In Ajax’s clash against FC Midjtylland, Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana featured, with Burkina Faso’s Lassina Traore and Morocoo’s Noussair Mazaraoui playing a part in the game.

Nigeria’s Frank Onyeka and Guinean Kaba Sory were listed for the reigning Danish champions as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to the Dutch giants.

In Manchester City’s slim 1-0 win against Olympiacos, the Greeks listed Senegalese Ousseynou Ba and Papy Abou Cisse. Guinean international, Mady Camara also featured in the loss to the Citizens.

Abraham Frimpong, Ghanaian was in the Ferencvaros team that lost 2-1 to Juventus. Also listed for the game were South Sudan’s Tokmac Nguen and Ivory Coast’s Franck Boli.

Borussia Dortmund ran out 3-0 victors against Belgians Club Brugge. Brugge listed at least five Africans for the game comprising; Ivorians Odilon Kossounou and Simon Deli, Senegal’s Krepin Diatta and Youssouph Badji, and Nigerian David Okereke.

In Lazio’s 3-1 win against Zenit St.Petersburg, Ivorian Dave Akpa-Akpro came on in the second half to have a taste of the encounter.

Mali’s Amadou Haidara was also involved in Red Bull Leipzig’s 1-0 loss to PSG. Senegalese Demba Ba played in Istanbul Basaksehir’s 4-1 loss to Manchester United, while Moroccan international Youssef El-Nesyri was involved in Krasnodar’s loss to Sevilla.

Five Africans were involved as Chelsea earned a late 2-1 win against Stade Rennes. The game had Senegalese goalkeepers at both ends of the pitch, with Amigo Gomis in goal for Rennes while his former teammate and compatriot, Edouard Mendy was in goal for Chelsea.

Mali’s Hamari Traore, Senegal’s Mbaye Niang and Moroccan, Hakim Ziyech completed the African representatives in the game.

Ivorian football legend, Didier Drogba and his Cameroonian counterpart, Samuel Etoo Fils have paid tributes to Diego Maradona.

Maradona, arguably the best footballer ever seen was announced dead on Wednesday, after he suffered a heart attack.

The world has been praising the genius of the ‘Golden Boy’ whose football artistry was mouthwatering to see.

Etoo, in his tweet said the year 2020 has taken too much away from the world, as he hailed the impact of El Pibe.

Drogba, on his part said Maradona made him take up football as his shirt was the first he wore as a kid.

The Argentine football legend was one of the figures in football who sparked excitement and reservations at the same time.

Drogba however had only good words for the legacy set by the former Napoli star.

Other African stars who reacted to Maradona’s death were Ivorian Yaya Toure and former Ghanaian star Michael Essien.

Maradona passed away at the age of 60.

Football legend and arguably the greatest player to have ever kicked a ball, Diego Maradona has died aged 60.

Maradona died of a heart attack weeks after successfully undergoing surgery to remove clots found in his brain.

A football magician during his playing days, Maradona was famed for the hand of God- a goal scored with his hand against England.

The Napoli and Boca Juniors legend appeared in four World Cups for Argentina, leading the Albiceleste to victory in 1986. He further appeared in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, in which he was sent home for failing drugs test in the latter.

He also had bouts of cocaine addiction and was wanted by the Italian government over unpaid taxes before his death.

Maradona scored 34 goals in 91 appearances for Argentina and is rated as arguably the most blessed footballer to have ever graced the game.

He coached Argentina between 2008 and 2010 amid other spells in the Middle East.

In a statement on Twitter, the Argentine Football Association expressed “its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend”, adding: “You will always be in our hearts.”

He was in charge of Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina’s top flight at the time of his death.

Maradona had good connections with Africa, where he was revered for his greatness and otherworldly skill.

As a global football ambassador, he was in South Africa in 2010 and 2011 where he met locals in the Soweto Township.