The UEFA Europa League is Europe’s second most prestigious club competition that holds every season, featuring the teams that narrowly miss out on a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
Since its inception in 1971, multiple African footballers have ended up on the winning side in the final of the competition.
From the likes of former Nigerian forward Victor Moses to Ghanaian midfield maestro Thomas Partey, this list highlights five African footballers to have won the Europa League title.
Victor Moses (Chelsea, 2013 and 2019)
Former Nigerian winger Victor Moses was an integral member of Chelsea’s Europa-winning team in the 2012-13 season. The Blues first participated in the UEFA Champions League, but dropped to the Europa League after finishing third in their group.
Moses scored four times from six appearances, including in both legs of the quarterfinals and semifinal encounters.
He also won the competition for a second time in 2018-19 and reached a third final with Inter Milan a year later, although he ended up on the losing side.
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John Obi Mikel (Chelsea, 2013)
Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel was also part of the Chelsea’s squad that won the 2012-13 Europa League.
He played five times for the Blues in their initial Champions League campaign, including four starts.
The 2013 AFCON winner went on to play four times in the Europa League, although he was an unused substitute in the final win over Benfica.
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Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, 2018)
Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey is included on this list following his Europa League triumph with Atletico Madrid in the 2017-18 season.
He featured in all the Spanish club’s six league games in the Champions League, although a third-placed finish in their group meant they would participate in the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Partey went on to play eight times for Atletico in their run to the title, including coming on as a late substitute in the 3-0 thrashing of Olympique Marseille in the final.
Nwankwo Kanu (Inter Milan, 1998)
Nigerian icon Nwankwo Kanu became the first African player to win both of Europe’s top two club competitions after his Europa League triumph with Inter Milan in the 1997-98 season.
‘Papilo’, played five times for the Milan club in the competition, although he was left out of the final win over Ajax Amsterdam.
Kanu got to the final with Arsenal in 2000, but ended up on the losing side, with Turkish side Galatasaray claiming the win.
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Youssef En-Nesryi (Sevilla, 2020 and 2023)
Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri was on the winning side of the Europa League in his two final appearances, winning a first in the 2019-20 season and in the 2022-23 season.
The 28-year-old scored twice in his first campaign and four times in his second campaign as Sevilla defeated Inter Milan and AS Roma in both finals respectively.
