By Mark Gleeson
When the new season of Major League Soccer kicks off at the weekend, all but three of the 24 teams in the north American league will have representation from Africa.
A total of 44 players are drawn from 19 different countries and do not include the players of African heritage who have gone on to play for either Canada or the United States at national team or junior level.
It is a significant representation for the continent whose numbers have been bolstered by several high profile signings.
Champions Atlanta United have strengthened their squad with Guinea international Florentin Pogba, the elder brother of France’s World Cup winner Paul.
Centre-back Pogba, 28, moved last month from Turkey’s Genclerbirligi but has yet to debut for his new club, who begin the defence of their title on Sunday at DC United.
There are also high expectations for Striker Orji Okwonkwo has been loaned to Montreal Impact from Serie A outfit Bologna. He had moved to Italy after scoring for Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015.
Last year Montreal loaned Algerian international Saipher Taider from Bolognaand are keeping him for another season.
FC Cincinnati are the latest franchise to join MLS and make their debut away at Seattle Sounders on Saturday with Hassan Ndam (Cameroon) and Fanendo Adi (Nigeria) in their inaugural squad plus Gambia-born striker Kekuta Manneh, last year called up to join the US national team squad but not yet capped.
Manneh returns to MLS after a stint with St Gallen in Switzerland and is one of the marquee players for the new club.
Other African stars in MLS include diminutive Ghana international Harrison Afful, whose performances last season for Columbus Crew saw him rated the league’s best right fullback.
Two DR Congo internationals Larrys Mabiala and Chris Mavinga, both born in France, are regulars while David Accam has played for Ghana, Michael Azira for Uganda and Mohamed El Munir and Ismael Tajouri are expected to feature for Libya next month as they seek to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals at the expense of South Africa.
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