Job Joel Matip has been tipped as the next Cameroonian who could
possible lift the English Premier League after Geremi Njitap lastly won it in 2006.
He is equally on the shortlist for the next African to get hold of the
prestigious EPL trophy after Riyad Mahrez with Leicester in 2017.
The full back has been outstanding in his guardian role at Anfield of
late despite injury at the start of the season.
Matip put up a brilliant performance to help his side Liverpool maintain
their lead in the English Premier League following their 5-0 win over
Watford.
The 27 year old center back has appeared in all of Liverpool’s last 7
EPL game since coming on from injury in December as a result of a
broken collar bone.
He was equally prominent in Liverpool’s defense during their goalless
UEFA Champions League 1/8 final first leg match against Bayern
Munich.
The former Schalke 04 defender has helped his team win 3 of their last
Premier League games, with all being home fixtures. However Joel
Matip’s Liverpool have drawn 3 League matches and a Champions
League fixture.The Cameroonian center back has ensured his team keeps 4 clean sheets 3 of
them in a row with the latest being against Manchester United and
Watford In seven of his last previous starts.
Naby Keita,Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are other African contingents at the club.
MATIP’S PERFORMANCE AT ANFIELD
Since joining the club on a free transfer from German side Schalke 04,
Job Joel Matip has had an impressive record at the club. Nonetheless,
the German born’s contract is due to expire next year.
Between 2016 and 2019 present day, Joel Matip has made 68
appearances, scored 3 goals, and kept 23 clean sheets.
He is one of the few center backs in the English League not to have
received a red card. However he has been booked 9 times.
In 2017, Joel Matip was rated amongst the top ten defenders of the
season.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Matip began his professional career with Schalk 04 a German based club
in 2009.During his stay at the club, he made 258 competitive appearances and
scored 23 times.
He also featured in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2014
World Cup in Brazil where he scored Cameroon’s lone goal.
Later on in his Career, Matip refused to play for Cameroon. His last
appearance for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon dates as far back as
2015 shortly after the Brazil expedition.
By Emmanuel Beng K.
