356 articles
Jay-Jay Okocha
Jay-Jay Okocha (Augustine Azuka Okocha, born 1973, Enugu), Nigerian attacking midfielder at Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, PSG, and Bolton; 1996 Olympic gold, three World Cups, back-to-back BBC African Footballer of the Year 2003-2004.
Jean Michaël Seri
Jean Michaël Seri (born 1991) is an Ivorian central midfielder for Maribor and Ivory Coast; ex-Nice, Fulham (£25m, 2018), Galatasaray loan, Hull City; AFCON 2023 winner.
Jeffrey Schlupp
Jeffrey Schlupp, born 1992 in Hamburg, is a Ghanaian versatile footballer; Leicester academy graduate, 2015/16 Premier League winner, eight and a half years at Crystal Palace, later Celtic and Norwich.
Jérémie Boga
Jérémie Boga, born 1997 in Marseille, is an Ivorian winger: Chelsea academy product, Sassuolo and Atalanta in Serie A, OGC Nice from 2023, Juventus from 2026, and a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Ivory Coast.
Jirès Kembo Ekoko
Jirès Kembo Ekoko is a French former professional footballer, born in 1988 in Kinshasa, who played as a winger for Stade Rennais in Ligue 1.
Job Ochieng
Job Nguono Ochieng, born 2003 in Nairobi, is a Kenyan winger for Real Sociedad in LaLiga and Kenya's Harambee Stars; La Liga debut February 2026, Copa del Rey 2025/26 winner, contract to 2028.
Jocelin Ta Bi
Jocelin Ta Bi (Djiamgone Jocelin Ta Bi), born 2005 in Attécoubé, Côte d'Ivoire, is an Ivorian left-footed right winger developed in Israel (Beitar Tubruk, Maccabi Netanya, Hapoel Petah Tikva loan) who signed for Sunderland in January 2026; Ivory Coast U23 international.
Joe Aribo
Joe Aribo (Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo), Nigerian midfielder born 1996 in London; ex-Staines Town, Charlton, Rangers (149 apps, 26 goals, 2022 Europa League final scorer), Southampton, and Leicester City loanee.
Jonathan Kodjia
Jonathan Adjo Kodjia, Ivorian forward born 1989 in Saint-Denis, France; starred at Bristol City (20 goals) and Aston Villa (31 goals), earned 18 Ivory Coast caps with 11 goals, played at AFCON 2019, last club Versailles.
Jordan Ayew
Jordan Ayew (Jordan Pierre Ayew), born 1991 in Marseille, is a Ghanaian forward who captained Ghana at the 2026 World Cup, with 117 caps and 33 goals.
Joseph Dosu
Joseph Dosu (Oladosu-), born 1973 in Abuja, Nigerian goalkeeper; Julius Berger FC and Reggiana; first-choice keeper of Nigeria's 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold-medal Dream Team; career ended by a 1997 car crash.
Joseph Opoku
Joseph Opoku (Joseph Amankwaah Opoku, born 2005) is a Ghanaian left winger at Swansea City, signed from Zulte Waregem in July 2026; one Ghana cap, distinct from Nicholas and Jerome Opoku.
Juma Bah
Abdulai Juma Bah (born 2006, Freetown) is a Sierra Leonean centre-back, 1.95 m, signed by Manchester City from Real Valladolid in January 2025 via a 6 million euro release clause, since loaned to Lens, Nice, and Augsburg.
Junior Dion
Sede Junior Dion, Ivorian-born striker for Lamontville Golden Arrows in South Africa's Betway Premiership; switched to Chad internationally in late 2025; 2025-26 Premiership top scorer with 14 goals.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegalese centre-back and national team captain, born 1991 in France; AFCON 2021 winner, Napoli star (317 games), brief Chelsea spell, now Al-Hilal until 2027.
Kamogelo Sebelebele
Kamogelo Sebelebele (Mike Kamogelo Sebelebele, born 2002) is a South African footballer, a right-sided winger or fullback for Orlando Pirates and South Africa, who won the 2025 MTN8, 2025 Carling Knockout and 2025-26 Premiership and played at the 2026 World Cup.
Karim Benarif
Karim Benarif (كريم بنعريف), born 1993 in Rabat, is a Moroccan central midfielder for Kerala Blasters FC; ex-AS FAR, FUS Rabat, MC Oujda, and Iraqi clubs, with 118 Botola appearances.
Karl Etta Eyong
Karl Edouard Blaise Etta Eyong is a Cameroonian center-forward, born in 2003 in Douala, who plays for Levante UD in La Liga and for the Cameroon national team.
Karl Toko Ekambi
Karl Toko Ekambi (Karl Louis-Brillant Toko Ekambi), Cameroonian winger-striker born 1992 in Paris; Angers, Villarreal, Lyon, Saudi and Qatari clubs; 51 Cameroon caps, 13 goals, AFCON 2021 standout.
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara (Kei Ansu Kamara), born 1984 in Kenema, Sierra Leone, is a retired striker who scored 147 MLS regular-season goals (second all-time) for a record 12 MLS clubs, won two US Open Cups, and captained Sierra Leone.
Keita Baldé
Keita Baldé Diao (born 1995, Arbúcies, Spain) is a Senegalese forward from La Masia who played for Lazio, Monaco, Inter, Sampdoria, Cagliari, and Monza, and won AFCON 2021 with Senegal.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Promise Iheanacho, born 1996 in Owerri, is a Nigerian forward from the 2013 U-17 World Cup who played for Manchester City, Leicester City, Sevilla, Middlesbrough, and Celtic, with nearly 60 Nigeria caps.
Khalil Ayari (خليل العياري)
Khalil Ayari (خليل العياري), born 2005 in Tunis, is a Tunisian left-footed right winger. Stade Tunisien 2023-26, PSG from 2026, on loan at Dunkerque; Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup. Not Yasin Ayari.
Kojo Peprah Oppong
Kojo Peprah Oppong (born 2004, Accra) is a Ghanaian centre-back for Fenerbahçe and Ghana. Formerly IFK Norrköping and OGC Nice, Coupe de France finalist 2026, 2026 World Cup participant.
Kolo Touré
Kolo Touré, Ivorian defender and coach born 1981 in Bouaké; Arsenal Invincible, Manchester City and Liverpool player, 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winner, later Wigan manager and Manchester City assistant coach.
Kwadwo Asamoah
Kwadwo Asamoah (Kojo Kwadwo Asamoah), Ghanaian footballer born 1988 in Accra; Udinese, Juventus, Inter, Cagliari midfielder-wing-back; record 279 Serie A appearances for an African player, 13 Juventus trophies, retired 2022.
Lacina Traoré
Lacina Traoré (Lacina Emeghara Traoré), Ivorian striker born 1990 in Abidjan; 2.03 m centre-forward, tallest outfield player in Premier League history; clubs included CFR Cluj, Kuban, Anzhi, Monaco, Everton; 2015 AFCON winner.
Lameck Banda
Lameck Banda, born 2001 in Lusaka, is a Zambian left winger who played for Nkwazi, ZESCO United, Arsenal Tula, Israeli clubs, and Lecce in Serie A, reaching 100 appearances before a 2026 contract dispute with Lecce and a move to Al-Swehly.
Leon Balogun
Leon Balogun, German-Nigerian centre-back (born 1988), not the US striker Folarin Balogun; played for Mainz, Brighton, two Rangers spells (2021 title, 2022 Scottish Cup, Europa League final), QPR, Aris Limassol; 36 Nigeria caps, 2018 World Cup.
Lomana LuaLua
Lomana Trésor LuaLua, born 1980 in Kinshasa, DR Congo forward and winger; played for Colchester, Newcastle United, Portsmouth, and Olympiacos; 146 Premier League games, 24 goals, 31 DR Congo caps, 7 international goals.