Nine Obscure Europe-Based African Players That Could Interest Lincoln City

It’s no secret that Lincoln City are targeting players from across the world.

We heard Jez was scouting in Europe this weekend, and it got me thinking. Where might he go? I put a suggestion for some leagues out there in this article, and vowed to cover players who might be of interest. Now, I’m just going to ignore that. Instead, I have seen a handful of African players in Europe who have caught my eye.

Maybe it is a gut feeling, but I feel African players tend to do well in the UK. Some of the biggest names of the Premier League have been African players, from Yaya Toure to Didier Drogba, and often they started in obscure leagues. Some were regional players in France (Riyad Mahrez), while Toure spent time in Belgium and Ukraine. Could the next massive African import currently be playing in an obscure division?

Also, Tim Keech from MRKT Insights has been extolling the virtues of African recruitment for years, and looking at players already in Europe suggests a durability in terms of settling and getting used to a different culture. I think that is important; it can be difficult for a young player to adapt (Erik Ring), but at the same time, one with a pathway that has already demonstrated that ability (Ivan Varfolomeev) can be hugely beneficial.

You should note, these articles are not me doing freelance scouting for the club, nor making recommendations. The site pays a lot for Wyscout, and with a couple of months left, I want to get every penny’s worth out of it, so I spent some time watching videos and picking the most random players out there.

Can they step up? Will this just broaden your horizons as to where we might be shopping? Will Jez George message me with a laughing emoji, considering how wide of the mark I am?

I say ‘I’, but I am going to give credit where it is due. These articles are often formed off the back of conversations with two people, Chris from the podcast, and Patreon Ed Harrison. I’m not throwing randoms out there without a filter, so often one of (or both) of those guys gets a barrage of names. Sometimes, they send me them back, and eventually, our three-man filter produces a list of players you probably won’t ever hear of again.

Still, it can’t hurt to have a little fun, can it? So, as nobody has said ever before, let’s get this party started in the Estonian city of Tallinn, shall we?