In this week's Money Matters, we look at the five most valuable players in the African Football League final, including three Mamelodi Sundowns stars!
Masandawana touched down in Morocco on Thursday night ahead of the eagerly anticipated first leg of AFL final against north African giants Wydad Casablanca on Sunday.
Read: African giants' coaching change 'confirmed' after AFL exit
The two teams have been the best teams in tournament so far, with the South Africans having the best defence with zero goals conceded, while the Moroccans have the most potent attack, scoring the most goals (five) in the competition to date.
The fixture is poised for some fireworks too, with the winner across the two legs set to walk away with a hefty $4 million (R74 million) in prize money. As expected, some of the continent's biggest stars will be on show, with five of the most valuable players between the two teams likely to play a part in the inaugural final.
According to Transfermarkt, three of the five players with the highest market value represent Rulani Mokwena's Downs, while the two others play for the 22-time Botola Pro League winners!
Very little separates the players in terms of their value, with Peter Shalulile and Yahia Attiyat Allah being the joint-most valuables stars who could feature in the AFL final at €2.5 million (R49 million) each.
Attiyat Allah joined Wydad on a free transfer from Greek top-flight team Volos NPS in 2020. Since his return to his native country, the left-back's career has been on an upward trajectory, and he was handed his first international cap in March 2022 at the age of 27. A relative late bloomer, the defender is now the one of the Atlas Lions' most trusted left-backs, and made six appearances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, playing the full match in their quarter-final victory over Portugal and their third-place play-off against Croatia.
Shalulile, meanwhile, has been one of the most lethal strikers in the DStv Premiership for a few years now, winning three league Golden Boots in the past five domestic campaigns. The prolific forward has also won two PSL Player of the Season awards, in 2021 and 2022. Aged 30, his stock has risen significantly since arriving at Chloorkop from Highlands Park for an undisclosed fee.
In joint-third-place are Downs duo Marcelo Allende and Teboho Mokoena with a market valuation of €2 million (R39 million) each. Both are regulars for the Tshwane giants, and the latter was named the 2022/23 PSL Player of the Season. Already capped 24 times by Bafana Bafana, the central midfielder is a key player for the national team and his club, and will look to make the AFL his fourth trophy in the Ka Bo Yellow colours. His midfield partner Allende, meanwhile, has often been lauded as one of the best footballers playing in Mzansi since his €2.9 million (R56.8 million) transfer from Montevideo City Torque in July 2022.
Read: AFL tragedy: Wydad star passes away ahead of Downs decider
Wydad skipper Yahya Jabrane is the fifth most valuable player across the two clubs at €1.8 million (R35.2 million). The veteran playmaker has made close to 200 appearances for the Casablanca team, contributing with more than 40 goal involvements. He won the 2021/22 Botola Pro League Player of the Year award during the same season he helped his club to a CAF Champions League title. He was also part of the history-making Morocco squad in Qatar, where he made two appearances, against Canada and Portugal. So far in the AFL, he has registered a goal and an assist.
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