The final week of the 2025-26 season still carries major implications for African internationals across Europe’s top competitions. The UEFA Champions League final on May 30 features Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League champions Arsenal; Arsenal have no African internationals on their books, while Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi has enjoyed another strong campaign with PSG and already claimed the Ligue 1 title.
Hakimi opened the scoring in last year’s Champions League final after 12 minutes, finishing a move started by Désiré Doué as PSG ran out 5-0 winners. Having also won the European Cup in 2018 with Real Madrid, a win this season would see him level with Samuel Eto’o as the most successful African player in the competition’s history and make him the first African since Eto’o to win consecutive titles, according to the source.
Injury clouds Hakimi’s availability: he has missed PSG’s last five matches, including the second leg of the semifinal win over Bayern Munich, after sustaining a knock in the first leg of that Final Four tie. Club voices have suggested he could return in time, but he has not yet resumed training and faces a tight recovery window; Ibrahim Mbaye and Senny Mayulu are cited as possible bench options for coach Luis Enrique.
The UEFA Conference League final on May 27 pits Crystal Palace against Rayo Vallecano. Senegal forward Ismaïla Sarr has been prolific for Palace, scoring nine goals to lead the competition, including six in the last five knockout matches and one in a 2-2 draw with Brentford earlier this month, according to the source. Evann Guessand and Christantus Uche are also in contention, while Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad have struggled with injuries.
Rayo will count on international teammates Pathé Ciss and Nobel Mendy as they seek the club’s finest hour. Morocco hopeful Ilias Akhomach, who scored in Rayo’s quarterfinal win over AEK Athens, is recovering from a tear to the left quadriceps and faces a race to be fit for the final.
In the Premier League, Arsenal have wrapped up the title but European places and relegation remain undecided on the final day. Mohamed Salah’s recent public criticism of Liverpool’s situation under Arne Slot and the Egypt forward’s impending departure have drawn attention; Liverpool’s Champions League status for next season is not yet secure and could be settled on the final day, according to the source. Brentford, with Dango Ouattara, could clinch European qualification for the first time if results align. Bournemouth’s Franco-Ivorian Junior Kroupi, Yankuba Minteh at Brighton and Noah Sadiki at Sunderland are all involved in late pushes for continental football, while Tottenham and West Ham face a straight shootout to avoid relegation; Pape Matar Sarr has been limited to substitute appearances under Roberto De Zerbi, according to the source.
