Pass masters - Africa's best passers


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From Michael Essien to Yaya Toure, Africa has been blessed with many pass masters in modern football.
 
Here are Africa's best passers, stats based, in the top five European leagues.
 

Ismael Bennacer - AC Milan


The Algeria international has been a crucial element of Milan manager Stefano Pioli's plans this season.
Bennacer is usually stationed in the centre of midfield alongside Ivory Coast international Franck Kessie.

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Player of the Tournament's passing has been on point in the middle of the park.

Bennacer has recorded 1,107 passes making him an African player with the most passes in the Serie A thus far.

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Romain Saiss - Wolverhampton Wanderers

 
The Moroccan defender-cum-midfielder is enjoying his best football under Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
 
Saiss has been deployed in defence and midfield by the Portuguese tactician, and always delivers for Wolves.
 
The Morocco captain has recorded the most passes (1,173) for any African player in the English Premier League thus far this season.

“Romain brings quality, experience, he’s a competitive player, he is versatile enough to play more than one position on the pitch, so I’m happy with him," Santo said.

“Romain, Conor Coady and Matt Doherty are players who were here before [I arrived at Wolves], players that have many years in the club, and we believe that the core of the squad and keeping the same players will improve us.

“If you look at history, the biggest teams are made around the same people, because complicity, friendship and bonds help the team.”
 

Aissa Mandi - Real Betis

 
The Algerian central defender has been one of Real Betis' best players this season as they look to retain their status in the Spanish La Liga.
 
Mandi is usually stationed in defence and has proved to be a quality ball-playing defender as he starts attacks from the back.
 
The 28-year-old, whose reading of the game is superb, has established himself as Africa's best passer in the La Liga this season.
 
Mandi has recorded 1,179 passes thus far as he continues to excel under coach Rubi.
 

Achraf Hakimi - Borussia Dortmund

 
The Moroccan full-back has had his best season in the German Bundesliga since he joined Dortmund on a two-year loan deal from Spain's Real Madrid in 2018.
 
Hakimi has been given the freedom to push forward which has seen him remarkably register 10 assists in the competition this season.
 
The creative full-back has also established himself as pass master under coach Lucien Favre.
 
Hakimi has recorded 1, 262 passes making him an African player with the most passes in the Bundesliga so far.
 

Idrissa Gueye - PSG

 
The Senegal international has hit the ground running in his debut season with French giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG).
 
Gueye's status as perhaps the Parisians' best central midfield player has seemingly grown by the week since he joined the club from English side Everton last July.
 
The tough-tackling player has caught the eye with his ability to read the game well and make perfect passes to his teammates.
 
Unsurprisingly, Gueye boasts the most passes (1,566) for an African player in the top five European leagues thus far.
 
“I am very happy with my adventure, everything is going well and my family is happy to live in Paris,” Gueye said on TuttoMercato.
 
“I have no reason to leave, here I am happy and I hope to stay at PSG for a long time.”

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Published: 04/22/2020