Is Diouf the best African striker in the world right now?

Picking up where he left off at the World Cup, El Hadji Diouf has had an excellent start to his first Premiership seaon.

The African Player of the Year scored twice against Southampton on Saturday to open his account, having already been outstanding in the Community Shield and the seaon opener against Aston Villa.

But there are many other top names - Kallon, Kanu, Nonda - who would compete with Diouf for the crown of Africa's deadliest frontman.

Do Africa's traditional superpowers - Nigeria, Cameroon etc - have anyone to touch him?

Is Diouf Africa's best striker?

I think he sucks. He should be an actor by profession. He can't be compared to strikers like Henry, Van Nistelrooy, Raul and others. He should try and stop being fake.
Ovis, Nigerian

Diouf is gettting all the attention simply because he is playing for a big club in a league that gets lots of media coverage especially in Africa. However, I feel that Auxerre's new signing Benjamin Mwaruwaru has the potential to be the best in Africa. His power and speed are amazing. At the moment, Diouf has done nothing exceptional to merit as the best striker from Africa.
Wambugu Ngunyi, South Africa

He's great, but he's more of an attacking midfielder or a centre-forward who plays freely behind the strikers, and in this trade maybe only Zidane does it better than him. I think Mido and Kallon are Africa's best strikers.
Sherif, Egypt

It does not require a century of matches for stars like Diouf to prove they soccer capability. He is simply the best African striker as now and may dominate for sometime considering his club and manager.
Araali Fred, Uganda

Diouf... what can say! Living in the States slowly drained my passion for the sport - until the World Cup this year and Diouf! Diouf is a wizard on the ball and I want to see him outshine Owen.
Dally Kimoko , St Vincent

I would've picked my jugdment from the World Cup but he didn't impress me at all. To me he was selfish, and wanted to control too much of the ball. Henri Camara was the whole thing behind Senegal's advance in the World Cup. Those and other things I saw, proved me right that he didn't deserve to be the African Player of the Year. So we need to stop comparing him to African legends like Abedi Pele, George Weah, and Tony Yeboah. Those players have much better records to his.
Cephas Laryea, USA

Of course, Diouf is one of the most complete strikers in the world right now. He can hold the ball, he can dribble, and his passing is just as good an any offensive midfield. His only weakness is his attitude with referees and opponents. Most on the game vs Turkey in the World Cup, he was complaining all the time and he was too relaxed.
Patrick Kalonji, Costa Rica, Central America

One weakness in Diouf's CV: he has not won anything yet. But the player is exceptionnaly talented and mentally strong. I think the best is to come. Good luck Diouf!
Oumar, Senegal

People are comparing him to Weah which is ridiculous, he cannot touch Weah in all parts of his game. Diouf is nothing more than an overrated cheater. Remember the game against Uruguay and the Community shield, if it isn't diving then he has a similar problem to Heskey with falling over things which aren't there.
Chris, UK

I'll give it to Aghahowa. Diouf is not a fantastic goalscorer. But if he improves on his goalscoring ability, he sure will be.
Oyinane Abdullahi, Nigeria

He is a wizard. Diouf's style of playing suits the English game. El Hadji and Michael Owen are among the youngest striking partners in the world. There are no doubts in my mind that El Hadji will score many goals for Liverpool in both the English Premier League and the European Champion League years and years to come. Diouf is rapidly emerging as the Michael Jordan of world football.
Vamba S. Fofana, USA

Kallon cannot be compare to Diouf. I respect him as a professional footballer, no doubt he has shown that with Inter. But Diouf is far more complete player than him.
Wuyeh Ceesay, Gambian London

He matches Romario; he has the skills, can invent a way to dribble, pass the ball and more beat two defenders at a time, although he depends too much on the referee. Go boy, watch Romario playing back in the days and get that confidence which will take you to higher status in world soccer.
Sam Kariz, Kenya

I think he is good but not the best in Africa. We have good players who are doing better than him, eg Augustine Ahinful and Yaw Preko. I also think that the African Footballer of the Year award should have been given to Osei Kuffour not him.
Eugene Malcolm Fynn, Ghana

I predicted one year ago that Senegal would beat France in the World Cup and we did. I predict now that by the end of the current premiership season, Diouf will be without a doubt the best striker in the world after he scores around 30 goals for Liverpool.
Alpha, USA/Senegal

He is a nice player but it is too soon to consider him Africa's top striker. He has a lot of polishing to do on his dribbling and shooting skills. He has a lot of speed and strengh but he needs that third eye to be in the class of George Weah and Abedi Pele.
Nathaniel B.Kiawu, Liberia

Diouf is too damn good. You cannot compare him to any other player as much as I know. He is a very good striker who is never tired to strike at any point in time.
Bridget, Nigeria

Diouf has got all the qualities of becoming the best African player ever, but right now he hasn't got there yet. He still has to work on his "attitude". Let's not forget the other players who aren't that fortunate to play in the top leagues... players like Zuma, Aghahowa, Livingstone Mbabazi etc.
Robert, Norway/ Uganda

I agree with most of the comments posted on this webpage. As far as I'm concerned Diouf is the world's best striker. His fellow African Mohamed Kallon is a great contributer to the game. Lets hope all African players keep up their form and continue progress in the game. I hope Diouf, Kallon, Fadiga may someday win the Fifa World Footballer of the Year - most Africans like myself were proud of Geroge Weah's accomplishments in 1995.
Alie M. Jalloh, United States (originally Sierra Leonean)

Diouf is a talented striker, very fast with agility, but there are better strikers than him like Aghahowa, Kallon, Agali and others.
Seun, USA

Just like Amani said it's too early to judge the guy. Furthermore tell me why does it have to be an African who happens to ply his trade in the English Premiership who is the best African player? We need to seem how he fares in the Champions League where he will face the likes of Kuffour, Cannavaro, Thuram etc. I used to think Nonda would replace the shoes of Weah but my allegiances are shifting slightly to Montorras of Benfica. Wait till you see him at Milan next season!
Shaka, USA

Two years ago, I told a friend that he has the potential of being one day the best in the world. He has a combination of skills that you usually don't see in one player. But I have to admit that I am surprised by how quickly it is happening.
El Hadji Gueye, USA/Senegal

Diouf is a pride to all African countries. Nobody can dispute this and we grow tall when we see him play. He's a great son of Africa. Diouf keep it up.

But you all need to know is we have another great striker, only he is playing in South Africa for Jomo Cosmos. His name is Essau Kanyenda and he is the greatest striker Malawi has ever had. This is the time for big teams to have an eye on Kanyenda wonder boy. He joined Jomo Cosmos whilst the league was half way but he managed to cruise through to be second highest goal scorer. No African defender can stop him.
Rexie Dyson Luya, Malawi

At this present stage, I'll consider Diouf to be Africa's best player. He reminds me of George Weah of Liberia.
Otis, USA

Definitely the best in the World. In two words: agile and durable. A one-man forward, he is out to change the equation of the Premiership. Flies like a butterfly and stings like a bee. You ain't seen nothing yet - a brighter future ahead. Waiting for Liverpool-Arsenal and Liverpool-Man U.
Ike, USA/Nigeria

He is good, but I think we have some better strikers than him, someone like Agahowa.
Kunle Adefogunlo, Netherlands

He is definetely the most complete striker in Africa right now. He can hold the ball, he can dribble, and his passing is just as good an any offensive midfield. His only weakness is his attitude with referees and opponents. He complains all the time, but then again, maybe it's his way to distract defenders and get the referee's attention when he is going one on one against them. Next to him, Eto'o from Mallorcca is as good but lack physical presence. Kanu has his best days behind him and Nonda hasn't proven anything on a larger scale then the French first division.
Jefferey Mout, Canada

I think he is simply the best. There is no question about it. I like a player who does not need no long rope to make his mark. He is direct, deadly and full of desire for the game. No African player at the moment plays with that much enthusiasm, hunger and self-belief.
Tomiwa Adetola, Nigeria

Why Africa's best striker? Why restrict it to Africa? Why not one of the world's best striker? I think the title question needs to be reformulated.
Demba, USA

I think there is no question. If you see what is done by him, for his club and also for his nation, he is Africa's best player.
Arnold Richard, Tanzania

Diouf is not only the deadliest African striker on the earth but the world's best striker. I was surprised he was not nominated as the World Cup's best player. No striker equates him right now. He attacks and scores, he dribbles and creates opportunities for other strikers, something Zidane cannot even do.
Waziri Mrisho, Tanzania

It's too early to judge him as "Africa's best striker", let's hope he'll become one as the season get on.
Amani, Tanzania