Racism has been a persistent stain on football, and African players have unfortunately borne the brunt of this abuse for far too long.
Here are list of nine (9) footballers of African descent who have faced racism in their careers:
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria): The Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, faced racism in Italy. he said, “I have been racially abused twice. Racism is a bad disease and it can actually make someone commit suicide.” Since relocating to Italy in 2020, the 24-year-old Nigerian has endured discriminatory comments. One notable instance occurred at the Stadio Bentegodi stadium in 2021, where fans of Hellas Verona directed monkey chants at him whenever he touched the ball. Additionally, he faced racist chants from Roma and Fiorentina supporters in 2020.
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon): A legend for Barcelona and Inter Milan, Eto’o has spoken out frequently about racist abuse he endured throughout his career, from crowd taunts to media portrayals.
Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast): The powerful midfielder faced racist chants from fans in Russia and Manchester City teammate Mario Balotelli was also targeted with racial abuse. Touré has been a vocal critic of racism in football.
Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal): The Napoli defender has been subjected to monkey chants from opposing fans in Italy on multiple occasions. Koulibaly has remained strong, urging action against racism.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon): The prolific striker has been targeted online and even during matches for his race. Aubameyang has used his platform to raise awareness about racism.
Daniel Sturridge (England): With Jamaican heritage, Sturridge has been subjected to racial abuse online. He has called for social media platforms to be held accountable.
Idriss Carlos Kameni (Cameroon): The former goalkeeper faced racist chants and objects thrown at him while playing in Spain. Kameni has spoken out about the need for stricter punishments for racist behavior.
Thomas Nkono (Cameroon): One of Africa’s greatest goalkeepers, Nkono endured racist abuse early in his career in Spain, including fans throwing bananas at him.
Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast): The Crystal Palace winger has been the target of racial abuse online and even received death threats. Zaha has called for stronger action against online racism.
This list is just a small sample of the many African players who have faced racism. It’s important to remember that racism is a complex issue, and these are just some of the many ways it manifests in football.