‘You cannot say Salah’ – Yakubu Aiyegbeni crowns greatest African player in Premier League history

Super Eagles legend Yakubu Aiyegbeni has crowned Chelsea and Ivorian football icon Didier Drogba as the greatest African player to have ever graced the Premier League.

In a recent interview, the former Everton striker, who is considered one of the league’s greats himself, weighed in on the ongoing debate about who truly deserves the title of the best African player in Premier League history.

Yakubu, who enjoyed a prolific career in the English top flight, scoring 95 goals across several clubs, acknowledged the remarkable talents of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. However, he firmly believes that Drogba’s contributions to Chelsea and the Premier League as a whole set him apart from his peers.

“The Premier League has seen some of the finest players from Africa, and it’s natural that there would be debates about who the greatest is,” Yakubu stated. “You cannot say Salah is the greatest African to play in the Premier League. Drogba was something special because he was scoring for fun.”

Yakubu’s endorsement of Drogba over Salah might come as a surprise to some, given Salah’s incredible achievements with Liverpool. The Egyptian forward has scored 158 goals in 264 Premier League appearances and played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years. Despite these accomplishments, Yakubu insists that Drogba’s legacy at Chelsea remains unmatched.

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“However, you have to give Salah credit for breaking the big legend’s record, which makes him one of the greatest Africans in the English top-flight, but for now, he is certainly not the greatest,” Yakubu added.

Didier Drogba’s impact at Chelsea is well-documented. Over two spells with the London club, the Ivorian striker won four Premier League titles and scored 104 goals in 254 appearances. His ability to deliver in crucial moments, including his memorable performance in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, has cemented his place as one of the most revered players in the league’s history.

While Mohamed Salah continues to build his legacy at Liverpool, Yakubu’s choice reflects the respect and admiration that Drogba commands among his fellow African footballers and fans alike. As the debate rages on, Drogba’s legendary status in the Premier League remains undisputed, at least in the eyes of Yakubu Aiyegbeni.