Tie-by-Tie Guide to Africans in the Champions League

Following the conclusion of the Champions League Last 16, attention now turns to the Quarter-Finals. This article presents the African players still in the competition

ANALYSISBy Ed Dove
The Champions League Last 16 is now behind us and the field of competitors has been cut down to eight. Three Spanish sides, two German sides, two English sides and a French side remain in contention for Europe’s elite footballing prize.
African luminaries such as Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Michael Essien have fallen by the wayside, while two thirds of the remaining Nigerian contenders also dropped out in the Round of 16.
Chinedu Obasi’s Schalke were crushed by Real Madrid, their 9-2 defeat appearing as though it belonged in a different era.
Despite playing a key role in Olympiakos’s famous 2-0 victory over Manchester United, Michael Olaitan didn’t play as the Greek side succumbed to a Robin van Persie hat-trick at Old Trafford.
However, a number of the continent’s big names do remain ‘alive’ in the competition and are still in with a shot of glory. This feature provides a Tie-by-Tie guide to the remaining African contenders.
Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid
The only African player involved in this all-Spanish tie is Cameroon midfield man Alex Song. Although, to say ‘involved’ might be overplaying it!
The former Arsenal man’s travails continue in Catalonia where, despite a positive spell in the midfield at the end of last season, he has largely struggled to assert himself in the Blaugrana first XI.
He started in the defeat against Real Sociedad at the end of February, but has predominantly been out of the picture since, remaining an unused substitute against Manchester City.
It is likely that injury to a team-mate represents his best route into the side.