The UK’s Best African sports stars

27 Feb 2018

From football to boxing, rugby and taekwondo,
African sports stars are making headlines. Here are some of the most
exceptional Africans in British sports.

N’Golo Kanté

This French-Malian footballer who plays as a
midfielder for English club Chelsea was voted the Professional Footballers’
Association player of the year for the 2016-17 season.

Christine Ohuruogu

After winning six World Championship medals,
the British relay athlete, who was born to Nigerian parents, said in late-2017
that she may soon retire from competitive relay, but that she will continue to
be deeply involved in the sport.

Joshua Buatsi

Floyd Mayweather has called him a “great
fighter”. The Ghanaian-born British boxer and Olympic bronze medallist made his
professional debut last year and is earning a reputation as a knockout artist.

Kolo Touré
Kolo Touré

Kolo Touré

The Ivorian and former Arsenal, Liverpool and
Manchester City defender has recently taken up a coaching role at Celtic
Football Club in Glasgow.

Mo Farah

Britain’s most successful-ever distance runner
retired from the track in 2017 after winning his 10th global track title, but
the Mogadishu-born Olympic champion plans to run this year’s London Marathon.

Mahama Cho

The Great Britain taekwondo heavyweight grew
up in Abidjan, in the Côte d’Ivoire where he says martial arts saved him from
bullying as a child.

Francesca Hayward

The award-winning British ballerina, born in
Nairobi, is the first mixed-race dancer at the Royal Ballet in London. This
year she shares the lead role in Peter Wright’s production of Marius Petipa’s
classic Giselle at the Royal Opera House.

Ifeoma Dieke

The Scottish Football Museum last year paid
tribute to the defender for the national team with a plaque on its Women’s
International Roll of Honour panel. Born to Nigerian parents, Dieke was one of
only two Scots to represent Great Britain in the London 2012 Olympics.

Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah

The Egyptian striker for Liverpool was this
year crowned African Player of the Year at the Confederation of Africa football
awards in Ghana. He was also recently ranked the most popular African
footballer on social media.

Maro Itoje

One of rugby’s rising stars, the British son
of Nigerian immigrants is playing for English Premiership club Saracens and the
England national team. He was nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year
award last year and was voted breakthrough player of year in 2016.

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