Aiyegbeni still fifth best African finisher
Egypt striker, Mohamed Salah could become the top-scoring African in Premier League history, as one goal against Watford today will be enough to equal the existing record, while two or more means the Egyptian will own it outright.
That record is currently held by Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba, who accumulated 104 goals over two spells with the London club before his eventual departure, for a second time, in 2015.
Salah, who also has a previous affiliation with the European champions, has become one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards since joining Liverpool from Italians Roma in 2017.
Drogba tops the rankings with 104 goals, followed by Salah with 103 goals, Senegal’s Sadio Mane is placed third with 99 goals.
Former Nigeria striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni sits fifth on the list of all-time African goalscorers in the Premier League, just behind Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s 97 for Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
The Nigerian featured for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers over a nine-year period, and believes his record stacks up favourably considering his club’s comparatively lower standings.
“I’ll still remain one of the top strikers from Africa, no matter if those guys score more than 100 goals,” he said. “Don’t forget they played for some of the biggest clubs in England.
“To score 15, 17 goals in Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn is big as well. If you can get 15 goals in a season as a striker in England, it’s a great season for you.
25 of Yakubu’s 95 goals in the Premier League came for Everton
“For me, it’s an honour to score that many goals. I got injured and didn’t play for one year. If I had, I would’ve scored more than 100. I had chances to do it, but the time was right for me to leave, so I went to China.”
