West Ham United’s reigning Player of the Year Aaron Wan-Bissaka got the nod ahead of an Arsenal ‘Invincible’ in a dream team of African Premier League talent selected by Manchester City left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.
A two-time top-flight champion at Highbury, former Cameroon international Lauren can certainly consider himself extremely hard done by.
Perhaps Ait-Nouri, who was only two years old when Arsenal won the league without losing a single match, is simply too young to appreciate Lauren’s excellence on the right-hand side of Arsene Wenger’s backline.
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Tomas Soucek of Czechia celebrates scoring his teams second penalty in the shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Czechia and Denmark at EPET ARENA on March 31, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Man City’s £31 million summer signing is certainly a lot more familiar with Aaron Wan-Bissaka; West Ham United’s slide-tackling specialist who is now closing in on a quarter of a century of Premier League appearances.
West Ham United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka selected as the Premier League’s best African right-back
Wan-Bissaka will represent DR Congo at the World Cup, while Ait-Nouri is expected to start for Algeria against Argentina, Jordan and Austria in Group J. Senegal, featuring El Hadji Malick Diouf, will hope to follow up their highly-controversial AFCON triumph with a deep run into another competition.
Also making Ait-Nouri’s XI, meanwhile, are former Man City greats Kolo and Yaya Toure, plus Riyad Mahrez. Ait-Nouri selects ex-Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy in net, Joel Matip at centre-half, Michael Essien and JJ Okocha in midfield behind a fearsome front three of Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Didier Drogba.
West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
When quizzed about the potential inclusion of Lauren at right-back, via Man City’s official YouTube channel, Ait-Nouri doubled down on Wan-Bissaka.
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Other options include Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United and Morocco, ex-Brighton speedster Tariq Lamptey, and Nuno’s former Nottingham Forest favourite Ola Aina.
With all things considered, while this is a rather niche achievement, Wan-Bissaka can certainly lay claim to being, if not the best African right-back in Premier League history, then certainly the one with the greatest longevity.
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Wan-Bissaka’s Wembley record is a good omen for the Hammers
Wan-Bissaka is almost certain to lose his Hammer of the Year crown, though. In a poll of Hammers News’ TalkingPoint users, the fans voted for Mateus Fernandes ahead of Crysencio Summerville.
Still, this has been another largely dependable campaign for a man snapped up for a bargain £15 million in the summer of 2024.
Wan-Bissaka provided two assists in the same Premier League match for the first time in his career against Chelsea in January, and showed his old employers what they are missing in a valiant 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Elland Road, Wan-Bissaka may be key to keeping Leeds’ silky Switzerland international Noah Okafor quiet.
Victorious in two Wembley finals at Man United – the 2023 Carabao Cup and the 2025 FA Cup – bet against ‘AWB’ at your peril if the Hammers secure a semi-final trip to the national stadium.
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