In Egypt, Burkina Faso and beyond, Aston Villa has a long relationship with the African continent.
Words: Ivan McDouall | @Ivan_McDouall
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The 2023 African Cup of Nations – being played in 2024 – is well underway in the Cote d’Ivoire. There has been some deep irony from an Aston Villa perspective as the mostly injured Bertrand Traore threw off the shackles of Birmingham-based fitness battles to score the winner for his beloved Burkina Faso in a 1-0 win versus Mauritania (who, not for nothing had a player called AK 47).
Traoré’s move to B6, as of yesterday, has come to an end, but his commitment to Burkina Faso’s national cause has never been in doubt, with some perhaps cruelly suggesting that Bodymoor represents a place of recovery between pauses abroad. Let’s not forget, of course, that we may not be enjoying the adventures of the Conference League without Bertie’s beaten winner against Leicester last season accompanied in their decisive opener against Nottingham Forest. We can also enjoy fond memories of that icy goal against West Brom behind closed doors. through COVID.
Bertrand Traoré is the newest African player to wear burgundy and blue, there’s a long (chessboard?) A story of Aston Villa players who have made their home on the African continent.
Prepare.
Gordon Hodgson, an Anfield legend but Villa’s first African player
The first African player to wear burgundy and blue is Gordon Hodgson, born in the Transvaal colony, now in South Africa. Hodgson, a double-talented sportsman (he also played cricket in Lancashire) who made a name for himself at Liverpool, where, despite falling on hard times for the club as a whole, he scored a phenomenal 241 goals in 377 games. He still sits third on Liverpool’s all-time goals list; For context, Ian Rush leads and Mo Salah is fifth. In this context, it’s probably a wonder that he went to Villa, hence the relegation and 28 appearances later he went to Leeds.
The Zambian pair made 4 appearances for the Villans
Then came Aston Villa’s well-documented Zambian duo Emment Kapengwe and Freddie Mwila, who spent nine months at the club between 1969 and 1970. The makings of an urban legend, then-coach Tommy Docherty pulled them out of obscurity with the Atlanta Chiefs, where he had caught the eye of traveling English teams. Four appearances between them probably say a lot, but they will be remembered as the first Zambians to play for England. There is also an attractive connection because they met defender Brian Tiler at Aston Villa, who incongruously became manager of the Zambian team in 1978. A small global one, by the way.
“Uncle Albert” is fondly remembered at Aston Villa.
The most represented African country in Aston Villa’s history is Ghana. The first was Nii Lamptey, a fickle young talent who never lit the fireplace. He also lived a tragic and unbelievable life, more on that here.
Jordan Ayew’s reputation was probably affected by the fact that he was with Villa at a critical time for the club. Signed for £10. 8m through Tim Sherwood, 10 goals in 58 appearances were the finished product, but there is no doubt that Ayew was part of a team so maligned that he missed out on all recognition. He was able to rebuild his reputation at Swansea (with his brother) and then at Crystal Palace, where he continues to contribute. The son, of course, of the Champions League winner (with Marseille). Abedi Pelé.
Albert Adomah is fondly remembered, who was of course part of the team that won promotion in 2019. During his time at Villa, he consistently contributed and scored goals and was in fact the top smart goalscorer in 2016-17. lives in the collective affection of Villa fans as he frantically celebrates against the Blues for his current club, QPR.
Idrissa Gueye has been a brilliant spark in an otherwise torrid season.
Four countries have provided two players for Villa – Senegal, Cameroon, DR Congo and Egypt.
Of the Senegalese contingent, Idrissa Gueye suffered the same as Ayew being linked with a terrible time for the club, before dramatically rebuilding his reputation at Everton and then, wildly, then at PSG, where he was widely regarded as a world-class player. Habib Beye also previously played for PSG, via Newcastle, and moved to Villa in 2009. It was an odd signing at the time, and even more so in hindsight, and Beye never managed to string together combined performances. Players like Carlos Cuellar and Luke Young reportedly pleased the Senegal international through successive coaches.
The Cameroonian contingent did not achieve much in B6.
It is fair to dismiss Villa’s Cameroonian representation: Jean II Makoun and Eric Djemba Djemba. Part of Villa’s history, of course, but there’s nothing to see here.
Yannick Bolasie’s arrival had fans off their seats.
The next two are more interesting. The Democratic Republic of Congo also contributed two Aston Villa players: Yannick Bolasie and Aaron Tshibola. Fans were captivated by Bolasie early in his career at Villa with explosive, wide-ranging play and dream-promoting tricks in the run-up to promotion. In the end everything worked out, which was a real shame. Tshibola arrived with great fanfare as a young man from Reading, but he has yet to hit the mark. At just 29 years old, he is currently doing his business in the United Arab Emirates, looking back with hope on his important (at the time) solitary goal against Newcastle in 2016.
Neither Elmohamady nor Trezeguet want an introduction.
The Egyptian duo of Trezeguet and Ahmed El Mohamady want no introduction. The ‘goal scored in Egypt’ in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Leicester at Villa Park was a moment of happiness as the two played side-by-side in Villa’s first Premier League. Elmohamady has been an excellent servant for Villa, playing 113 league games. He now continues to build the club as an ambassador. Trezeguet’s time was shorter, but he scored goals in the relegation war after the first COVID lockdown in 2020. Good memories of both, and arguably the club’s most outstanding African players.
Gestede’s stay at Aston Villa was short-lived.
Rudy Gestede, born in France, but undercover in Benin from a foreign football perspective, will have a place in my Villa history as he scored two goals in my son’s first game at Villa Park (against Rotherham in 2016). His call is also mentioned every time we play at Bournemouth, because he also scored the last time we beat them at his stadium. And that’s all, dear reader.
Kodjia’s first season was incredible, but from there it was all downhill.
Jonathan Kodjia has joined a long list of forwards claiming to be the ‘answer’ to an age-old question about who can score 20 goals a season for Aston Villa Football Club. To be honest, the semi-prolific Ivorian in his First season with 19 goals but an injury, and then Tammy Abraham forced him to leave the side completely or retire to the wing. However, a popular relic from the Championship era and last noticed in Ligue 2 in France.
The most outstanding Tanzanian of all time and Villa’s last goalscorer in a first cup final.
The first and only Tanzanian to play football in the Premier League, Ally Samatta, was seen as the solution to update Wesley following the Brazilian’s serious injury at the hands of Ben me. To be honest, he had a similar track record to Wes, so in many ways, it was a real upgrade. However, until Aston Villa reach another cup final, we can look back on his glorious goal against Manchester City at Wembley in 2020 to ease the pain.
Nakamba is a much-loved figure at the club.
Many Aston Villa fans will of course have fond memories of Zimbabwean Marvellous Nakamba. Always a smiling presence around the ground – my own son saw the benefit of that several times – and subject to (for me) a decent chant about hating the Blues, Marv was what he was. He helped get Luton promoted and is back playing in the top flight. I would wish him nothing but the absolute best.
And there are others!
The sight of Republic of Congo’s Christopher Samba being thrown on up front was the subject of much hilarity in the Steve Bruce era. Almost as enjoyable as Malian Yacouba Sylla’s chant – ‘He Loves the Villa’. And lest we forget Moustapha Salifou from Togo who despite a strong 2006 World Cup and being described as the Togolese Zidane by compatriot Emmanuel Adebayor made only a handful of appearances in claret and blue – most notably when Martin O’Neill changed the entire team against Slavia Prague in the UEFA cup.
Finally, this random and evocative walk into the afterlife probably ends in a strange path. Curtis Davies played for Villa between 2007 and 2011, receiving great applause. He represented England U21 and was involved in several full teams at Villa. however, at the age of 38, he represented Sierra Leone in a strong manner.
And there we have it.
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