Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh has placed Sadio Mane at the top of his list of the five greatest African players in Premier League history, while selecting Mohammed Kudus ahead of Liverpool great Mohamed Salah.
The Gambia international made his choices during an interview with BBC News Africa, prompting debate after Salah was left out of a line-up featuring some of the continent’s most influential footballers in English football.
Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien was ranked second by Minteh, who praised the impact and intensity of the Ghanaian’s performances during his Premier League career.
“He was a monster on the pitch,” Minteh said, describing Essien as a player whose energy, strength and ability allowed him to influence every part of the field.
Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus was included in fifth place. Minteh highlighted the Ghanaian playmaker’s technical quality and willingness to contribute to the team rather than focus solely on his own performance.
“I love the way he plays. He is really good with the ball. He’s also a team player,” Minteh said of Kudus.
Sadio Mane was named number one, with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba third and Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o fourth. The selection placed four players from Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Cameroon alongside Kudus in Minteh’s personal ranking.
The absence of Mohamed Salah was the most notable feature of the list. Salah has scored 193 Premier League goals and is widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest players, but Minteh was direct when asked whether he considered the Egyptian a player to admire.
“No, I don’t look up to him,” he said.
Minteh explained that Mane’s position at the top of his selection was based on the Senegal forward’s work ethic and his commitment to his faith.
“The way he worked hard, no matter what you do, if you put hard work there and put God first for everything, it always pays off, and that’s what Mane did,” Minteh explained.
The Brighton winger’s comments have attracted particular attention because of reports linking him with a move to Liverpool. The Reds are reportedly considering Minteh as a potential successor to Salah, who left for Trabzonspor this summer.
Essien’s inclusion will be welcomed by Ghanaian supporters. The former Chelsea midfielder won two Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge and remains one of Ghana’s most decorated footballers.
Kudus, meanwhile, continues to build his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents. At 24, he is the youngest player named in Minteh’s top five and the only footballer on the list still developing his legacy in the competition.
Minteh’s choices have renewed the long-running discussion over Africa’s greatest Premier League exports. While the omission of Salah is likely to remain the main talking point, the presence of Essien and Kudus gives Ghana a prominent place in the debate and underlines the country’s lasting influence on English football.
