The UEFA Europa League is the second-tier competition in European club football. Since its inception in 1971, the tournament has featured several African footballers who have showcased their talent on the European stage, delivering impressive performances and scoring important goals.
Some African players have also gone a step further by lifting the prestigious trophy and writing their names into the competition’s history.
This article takes a look at five African players who have lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy.
Victor Moses
Ex-Super Eagles and Chelsea forward Victor Moses lifted the prestigious trophy in 2013 and was also part of the squad that lifted the title in 2019’as well, although he missed out on a place in the matchday squad.
Moses enjoyed a very impressive season with the Blues after joining them in 2012 and was mostly used in the wing-back position. The 35-year-old scored four goals in six matches, including in both legs of the quarter-final and semi-final win over Rubin Kazan and Basel respectively.
Moses also reached another final with Italian side Inter Milan in the 2019-20 season, although they were eventually beaten by Sevilla.
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Thomas Partey
Ghanaian midfield maestro Thomas Partey won the UEFA Europa League title with Atletico Madrid in the 2017-18 season. The 33-year-old had come through the youth club of the Spanish heavyweights and went on to become a key player in that campaign.
Partey also helped them win the UEFA Super Cup later that year, when Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid in the final.
He eventually left for Arsenal in 2020 and currently plays for Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, after joining the club on a free transfer during the summer transfer window.
Ademola Lookman
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman made history in 2023 after inspiring Atalanta to the Europa League title with a stunning hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. The 28-year-old became the first African player to score a hat-trick in an European final and was only the sixth player in history to achieve the feat.
Lookman’s treble also ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-game unbeaten run across all competitions and helped Atalanta to their first ever European title.
The Nigerian forward eventually won the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award at the end of the year for his impressive feats across the campaign.
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Yves Bissouma
Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma helped Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur to the Europa League title during the 2024-25 season after they edged Manchester United by a lone goal in an all-English final.
Bissouma played 10 games throughout the competition for Spurs, including the full 90 minutes in the final, and was a very key figure in the midfield as a first half goal from Brennan Johnson gave his side a historic win, ending their long trophy drought.
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Frederic Kanoute
Malian great Frederic Kanoute was a two-time Europa League champion during his playing days with Spanish club Sevilla.
The former Lyon striker was an influential part of Sevilla’s squad that won two straight titles in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Kanoute also won the prestigious African footballer of the year award in 2007, becoming the first player born outside of Africa to win the award. He eventually retired in 2013, calling time on a very successful playing career.
