The history of African players at Valencia CF

Africa Day is celebrated this week, in which the creation of the Organisation for African Unity -the African Union since 2002- is remembered. Throughout Valencia CF's history, several players with origins in the continent have represented the club, from Salif Keita to Geoffrey Kondogbia.

Born in Mali, Keita joined the club in 1973. He was the first African Balon d'Or winner, and showed his scoring skills for VCF, finding the net on his debut with a brace against Oviedo at Mestalla. He would rack up 23 goals during his three seasons in Valencia.

It would be several years before the next African player would arrive: Algerian Rabah Madjer, who was brought in during the 1988 winter transfer window from European champions Porto. Madjer also scored on his debut, although he would play just 14 games for the club before returning to Portugal after his loan spell ended.

Fellow Algerian Moussa Saib also had a short tenure at Mestalla, between his summer arrival in 1997 and departure in the winter to Tottenham Hotspur.

Born in France, but of Malian origin, Momo Sissoko was snapped up on a free transfer at the age of 18 from Auxerre. He had been a striker, but Rafa Benítez converted him into a defensive midfielder and an important part of the double-winning side. After two seasons, he was sold to Liverpool FC.

Stephen ‘Sunny’ Sunday, of Nigeria, moved from Polideportivo Ejido in Spain to Valencia CF in July of 2007. He would play 16 league games and added the Copa del  Rey to his CV, before departing for CA Osasuna.

Sofiane Feghouli was initially loaned out to UD Almeria when he joined in 2010, but returned to play more than 200 official games. During 2016, the year in which he vacated the club, the Malian was accompanied by fellow countryman Ibrahim Diallo, who took part in four Copa del Rey matches.

At the end of January 2014, Seydou Keita was picked up to continue a family tie with the club. The nephew of predecesor Salif, he had been plying his trade in the Chinese league but was brought back to Spain -where he had previously shone at FC Barcelona. The 34 year old's stay was brief, but he would earn the affection of the fans during his half-season at Mestalla.

Tunisian Aymen Abdennour signed for Valencia CF from AS Monaco in the summer of 2015. In his first season he played 29 official games, but the next campaign his role was reduced and he was transfered to Olympique Marseille.

The most recent African player at the club is Geoffrey Kondogbia, one of the current captains of the first team. He has made 89 appearances thus far, 78 as a starter, and although he was an international for France at youth level, he chose to represent Central African Republic at senior level.