Mido's amazing goal exploits last year made him the most high-profile African in the Netherlands, but he is certainly not alone.

Here BBC Sport Online profiles some of Africa's leading lights in the Casino Eredivisie:

Bonaventure Kalou: A regular with Feyenoord for some five years, Ivory Coast midfielder Kalou was in some ways Africa's most successful footballer at European club level last season.

Although Feyenoord only finished third in the league, they triumphed 3-2 winners of Europe's second major cup competition, the Uefa Cup, in a thrilling final at their own ground in Rotterdam.

And Kalou will find himself ever more important for the club in new season as they seek to defend their trophy.

They have sold Jon-Dahl Tomasson to AC Milan and Brett Emerton seems to be on his way, leaving Kalou as one of the few attack-minded midfielders that remain with the club.

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Mido: Ajax's Egyptian wonderkid continued the goalscoring form that first grabbed the eye across the boarder with Belgian side Ghent.

His 24 goals were the key that finally secured the Amsterdam club their championship after so many seasons finishing beneath the top spot.

Still only 19, he will be hoping that this season he can have the same impact as the last teenage African striker at the club.

Back in 1995, Ajax coach Louis van Gaal gave Nwankwo Kanu a long run in the side - and the club ended up European champions.

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Hatem Trabelsi: Another North African who won the Dutch league with Ajax last season, Tunisian defender Trabelsi played an important, if unspectacular, role at the back.

He played 21 times, and would have had a near-interrupted season had it not been for the African Nations Cup.

As soon as he returned to the Netherlands he was straight back into the side.

His solid, dependable performances were every bit as important as the spectacular impact of Mido.

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Hans Vonk: This time last year, Heerenveen's South African goalkeeper was on the verge of ending his 14-year stint in the Dutch league with a move to Serie A side Perugia - a move that fell through because of a disputed transfer fee.

Vonk stayed, and ended up enjoying life in the Casino Eredivisie so much he didn't want to leave when the African Nations Cup came around in January.

He was forced to go after South Africa asked Fifa to intervene, but like the rest of the Bafana Bafana side did not have a great tournament.

Vonk was then briefly made captain under Jomo Sono in March, only to be dropped altogether for the World Cup in favour of Andre Arendse - whose famous mistake against Spain cost SA a place in the second round...