Source: @Reuters
The new English Premier League season has been exceptionally entertaining. As teams continue to battle early season rust and newly promoted underdogs acclimatize to the high standards of this level, African Diamonds continue to sparkle in England.
Among the many standout African players in the Premier League, three specialists made the net ripple in the second matchweek:
(3.) Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
The 65-million-pound right winger continues to be one of the league’s most intense runners, notably registering a match-high 21 sprints in United’s opening game. The Indomitable Lion struck a late 82nd-minute goal for Manchester United in their commanding 5–2 victory over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, proving once again why he is one of the premier African players in the Premier League.
(2.) Malick Yalcouye (Côte d’Ivoire)
His receding hairline became a major talking point on social media as many online trolls questioned the 20-year-old’s age. Unlike ‘Samson’, Malick’s strength is clearly not in his hair—the Malian-born sensation ‘brought down the roof’ at Stamford Bridge, finishing the match with an 80% take-on success rate and 2 clinical shots on goal across his 68 minutes on the pitch, establishing himself among the top young African footballers in the EPL.
(1.) Yoane Wissa (Congo)
Yoane is undoubtedly one of the reasons the world will never forget what the DR Congo did at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Over the weekend, Bryan Mbeumo’s former collaborator showed glimpses of his World Cup brilliance after scoring an unbelievable acrobatic overhead kick against Spurs.
Of course, he ran off to do the ‘Fimbu Chicotte” with Anthony Elanga. This dance move is hilariously dubbed by internet fans as the “belt to a” celebration. Yoane Wissa explained in a post-match interview that the gesture is a proud tribute to his Congolese roots and a reminder of how far he has come.
In this rich vein of form, the Newcastle hitman will surely be giving many more opponents the “belt to the backside” this season while headlining the dominant group of African players in the Premier League.
