Temwa, Salah, CR7 - 16 footballers to watch on ESPN Africa and Disney+

Mohamed Salah's move to Trabzonspor on a free transfer from Liverpool means he will be on screens across Africa on ESPN's platforms during the 2026-27 season.

Bafana Bafana centre-back Olwethu Makhanya's move to Rangers from Philadelphia Union was another that led to viewers being even more spoiled for choice.

It is not all change, however. There are, of course, many of the same stars in men's and women's football -- ranging from the NWSL and UEFA Women's Champions League to the Saudi Pro League and DFB Pokal -- who lit up our channels in seasons gone by.

Subject to transfers and broadcast schedules, here are 16 of the many star players to look out for on ESPN 1 and ESPN 2 in Africa, as well as Disney +, which is available in South Africa.

In no particular order, we have:

Mohamed Salah, Trabzonspor

An African global superstar is set to light up the Turkish Super Lig this season after Salah completed his move to Trabzonspor.

Salah's Liverpool career may not have come to an ideal end amid disagreements with former head coach Arne Slot. However, he has shown even in recent months why he is the real deal - particularly in the colours of Egypt.

The 'Egyptian King' scored four goals at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco (December - January) and picked up a goal and an assist in the Pharaohs' World Cup opener, a 3-1 win over New Zealand.

Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current

Temwa Chawinga was already a star before the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), after back-to-back NWSL Golden Boots. Now, however, her stock has risen through the roof.

Chawinga picked up the WAFCON Golden Boot with 5 goals and 2 assists as Malawi made the final against all expectations, losing to Cameroon.

The Current are back in action on August 22 (00:30 CAT on August 23) as they take on Seattle Reign.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr

Indications are that this will likely be Ronaldo's final season as a professional footballer, and one of the greatest players of all-time will surely want to leave on a high if so.

Last season, he led Al-Nassr to the league title with 28 goals. They only won it by two points ahead of Al-Hilal, so another cannot be taken for granted. Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and co. will need to be at the absolute top of their game as they look to defend their title.

Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray

Osimhen has averaged roughly a goal involvement per game in the Super Lig for Galatasaray, reviving his career after a difficult end to a highly successful stint at Napoli.

His arrival in Türkiye - initially on loan and then permanently - was a landmark moment for the league. Naturally, Osimhen continues to be linked with top clubs around the world, but as long as he remains in the Super Lig, he will be on ESPN's African channels this season.

Romelu Lukaku, Fenerbahçe

The latest in a long line of world class attacking players to play in the Super Lig in recent years, Belgium's all-time record goalscorer joined one of Europe's biggest clubs recently to add fuel to the fire in one of football's great rivalries.

Fener have not won the Super Lig since 2013-14 and their fierce rivals, Galatasaray, have won each of the last four titles.

The Yellow Canaries have signed a striker who knows what it takes to win titles - and it just so happens that he is of Congolese descent, giving African fans yet another reason to tune into his battles with Osimhen, Salah and co.

Michael Olise, Bayern Munich

The DFB-Pokal is on ESPN Africa, meaning there is a strong chance Bayern will feature on our channels during the competition. There are few players in world football as entertaining to watch as France winger/attacking midfielder Michael Olise - who is of Nigerian and Algerian descent.

Having spent much of his youth career at Chelsea, Olise had his first team breakthrough at Reading before rising to prominence at Crystal Palace. He joined Bayern in 2024 and was part of the team that won the 2025-26 DFB-Pokal.

Barbra Banda, Orlando Pride

Banda scored the winning goal in the 2024 NWSL Championship final as the Pride beat Washington Spirit 1-0. She has had her battles with injury, but the Zambia captain is back and firing on all cylinders again.

With 12 goals from 15 appearances, Banda has scored well over half her team's goals in a difficult 2026 campaign. They may not win the championship this season, but Banda certainly stands a strong chance of winning the Golden Boot.

Harry Kane, Bayern Munich

When talking about the stars of the DFB-Pokal, it would be a travesty if we failed to mention the hat-trick hero from Bayern's 3-0 win over VfB Stuttgart last season.

Kane scored a whopping 10 goals in last season's tournament - six more than any other player in the DFB-Pokal. The England captain shows no sign of slowing down at 33 years old.

Tabitha Chawinga, Lyon

Every bit as instrumental in Malawi's golden generation as her younger sister, Temwa, Tabitha Chawinga is likely to feature on our air again this season in the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL).

After averaging a goal involvement per game in France's top flight last season (13 goals and 5 assists in 18 appearances), she lifted the Division 1 title and the Coupe de France.

However, the UWCL remained elusive with defeat in the final to Barcelona, meaning Chawinga has a score to settle.

Olwethu Makhanya, Rangers

South Africa international Makhanya joined Rangers from Philadelphia Union as Derek McInnes' side sought an option at centre-back to help them halt Celtic's dominance of Scottish football.

The Scottish Premiership airs on ESPN Africa, with the first Old Firm derby of the league season set to take place on September 20 at Celtic Park - a week after a League Cup quarter-final between the same teams at Ibrox.

Marshall Munetsi, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder/centre-back Munetsi returned to action for Wolves following their relegation from the Premier League. The Zimbabwe star -- a controversial absentee in recent months -- was recently on loan at Paris FC.

Munetsi is predominantly used in the middle of the park nowadays and scored for Wolves in their 2-2 Championship draw with Blackburn Rovers.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, Birmingham City

Super Eagles right-back/winger Osayi-Samuel is part of a Birmingham side that is climbing the ranks of English football again.

In their first season back up to the Championship from League One last season, they finished 10th. It may have taken time to adjust for the new ownership group led by Tom Wagner -- with Tom Brady as a minority investor -- but the Blues are back on the up.

Osayi-Samuel has impressed in a 1-0 League Cup win over Swansea and 0-0 league draw to Sheffield United.

Lyle Foster, Burnley

Nicky Hayen opted against rushing Foster back to action, allowing the Bafana Bafana striker to recuperate following a difficult 2025-26 season and FIFA World Cup.

Foster has been in and out of the national team starting lineup after a loss of confidence during Burnley's relegation from the Premier League. However, when he is at his best, he is capable of scoring goals consistently while linking play up masterfully -- as demonstrated during the AFCON group stage games in December.

Mohau Nkota, Al-Ettifaq

Winger/fullback Nkota suffered an injury which kept him out of the FIFA World Cup.

This and family bereavements have put the brakes on his football progress, but he remains one of South Africa's brightest talents at 21.

Ime Okon, Hannover 96

Okon started alongside Mbekezeli Mbokazi at centre-back during the World Cup and the duo - both in their early 20s (Okon 22 and Mbokazi 20) were almost impregnable.

Bafana had their problems at the other end, scoring only two goals in four games throughout the tournament. However, the performances of Okon and Mbokazi were instrumental to their run to the round of 32 - a first ever World Cup knockout stage appearance for South Africa's men's national team.

Okon will be hoping for a similarly deep run in the DFB-Pokal with 2. Bundesliga side Hannover 96. Their campaign starts against Hemelingen on August 22.

Luke le Roux, Portsmouth

A midfielder who has been on the outskirts of the Bafana Bafana setup recently, le Roux could find his way back in with a strong run of form for Pompey in the Championship.

The midfielder finished last season strong, but has got the current campaign off to a slow start - featuring in a League Cup defeat to West Ham and remaining unused on the bench in a league loss to QPR.

Portsmouth will look to revive their league campaign in their next match against Lincoln City on Saturday.