2024-05-05 12:10:02
The preliminary list of candidates for the Marc-Vivien Foy Award 2024, which is awarded every year by France 24 and Radio France Internationale to the best African player in the French Football League, included 11 players. But there are only three of them remaining who will compete in the final to decide the race, and they are Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, the star of Paris Saint-Germain, Algerian Nabil Bentaleb, the midfielder of Lille, and the Gabonese striker of Marseille, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Here is a profile of the three players:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, striker (Gabon / Marseille FC)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grew up at Laval, where he was born on June 18, 1988. He played professionally for Monaco and Aubameyang, then was the mascot for Saint-Etienne between 2011 and 2013 before moving to the Bundesliga to play for Dortmund.
He also played on the grass of the English Premier League stadiums, with the capital’s London clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea. Then he returned to French territory in 2023 to play in Marseille, after also tasting the sweetness of the Spanish League with Barcelona.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who won the Marc-Vivien Foy Award in 2013, was among the most prominent architects of Marseille reaching the Europa League semi-finals, where it faced Italian club Atalanta.
Nabil Bentaleb, midfielder (Algeria / Lille Club).
Nabil Bentaleb’s first appearance was with his hometown club, Lille – he was born on November 24, 1994. After spending several years with the German club Schalke, he returned again to the home he knew well and trained there when he was young. A true son of his city, Lille, he greatly admired the Ivorian striker Gervinho and his Belgian teammate Eden Hazard. He is close to clinching a qualification ticket to the Champions League competition with his team, which occupies fourth place three rounds before the end of the French League.
Achraf Hakimi, defender (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain).
A key player for Paris Saint-Germain, Achraf Hakimi (25 years old) is often a starter on the right side of defence. He is a key player in Luis Enrique’s tactical lineup this season. After spending time with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, Hakimi has been based at the French capital club since 2021.
Last updated: May 3, 2024 – 15:46
Suggest a correction
2024-05-05 12:10:02