African stars in Europe's top divisions find themselves in the midst of the fray as the 2021-22 season fast approaches its conclusion, looking to end the campaign on a high note or avoid a calamitous conclusion as titles, qualification places, and relegation spots are settled.
Which Africans are battling for the title? Who have their eyes on silverware? And who are just desperate to beat the drop? ESPN has all the answers.
English Premier League
It's a two-horse race for the Premier League title, as has been the case for much of the season, and we're sure to have another high-profile African winner.
Manchester City and Riyad Mahrez, aiming for his fourth Premier League winner's medal -- are seemingly in the driving seat, as they lead Liverpool by four points with two matches to play for the Reds, and one for City.
The Reds' recent 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur may ultimately prove decisive, although we can still expect the Merseysiders to push Pep Guardiola's side close given Sadio Mane 's recent magnificent form as the Reds chase an unprecedented quadruple after their FA Cup win.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah also has an individual battle on his hands, as he looks to win a third top-flight Golden Boot. This would put the Egypt superstar level with Harry Kane and Alan Shearer, but he faces stiff competition in the form of in-form Son Heung-min, who moved one goal behind Salah in Thursday's North London Derby thumping of Arsenal.
The Gunners and their African players -- Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Elneny and injured Thomas Partey -- are two points behind Spurs in the race for the Champions League, although their London rivals have what seem to be more straightforward fixtures to come. Could Arsenal's Anglo-Ghanaian forward, Eddie Nketiah -- who has scored four goals in his past five matches -- yet prove decisive even though he's entering the final weeks of his contract?
At the other end of the table, Norwich City and Watford -- who have 10 African internationals in their current squad -- have already been relegated to the Championship, but will they be joined by Burnley, Leeds United or Everton?
With Alex Iwobi in impressive form, Everton have taken seven points from their past three matches to move two points clear of Leeds in 18th with a game in hand, and realistically they need four points from their final three matches of the campaign to be safe.
Burnley are a point behind Leeds, with a game in hand, but Ivory Coast wideman Maxwel Cornet will be desperate to ensure his horror miss in the 2-0 defeat by Norwich last month doesn't prove costly.
Italian Serie A
Africa could produce another Italian champion this year, with Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie firmly in the title hunt after Achraf Hakimi won Serie A with Internazionale last season.
Their AC Milan team are two points ahead of Inter with one match to play, while Juventus and Victor Osimhen's Napoli have already sealed Champions League qualification.
At the other end of the 20-team ladder, all clubs from 15th-placed Sampdoria down may yet plunge into Serie B, with Samp's Omar Colley, Lassana Coulibaly of Salernitana, and Venezia's David Okereke, among the Africans battling against the drop.
French Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain wrapped up the title in April -- meaning Africa Cup of Nations winners Idrissa Gueye and Abdou Diallo get their hands on more silverware this season -- but there's still much to play for elsewhere.
Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara has been prompting reported interest from Premier League clubs, while Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd has been hotly tipped for a move to West Ham United in recent windows. Either player would love to continue their rise to prominence by helping their current employers reach the UEFA Champions League.
Keep an eye out for Rennes' veteran Mali right-back, Hamari Traore, whose 10 assists this season are only three fewer than Lionel Messi.
Marseille occupy third, with all the teams from AS Monaco (second) down to Strasbourg (fifth) still able to qualify for the UCL, and Andy Delort and Amine Gouiri of Nice and Ghana duo Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes) and Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg) are just some of the African stars still in the hunt for qualification.
At the foot of the table, Jean Onana 's Bordeaux need a dramatic upturn in fortunes to even take the relegation playoff spot, while fallen giants Saint-Etienne and their all-African forward line of Wahbi Khazri, Denis Bouanga and Ryad Boudebouz seem unlikely to get clear of the drop.
Spanish LaLiga
Xavi Hernandez's late-season turnaround at Barcelona has ensured the Catalan giants will play in the Champions League next season, with the five-time European champions securing their place among the European elite with a 2-1 victory over Real Betis last weekend.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been influential during that run, netting 11 goals, including a double against Celta Vigo on Tuesday, and he should relish a first UCL campaign since 2017-18.
Youssef En-Nesyri and Bono's Seville are fourth and will join Barca and the Madrid clubs in the UCL next term unless Betis, who can call upon Senegal full-back Youssouf Sabaly, can work a miracle on the final day of the campaign.
The bottom six are all seeking to secure safety, meaning an anxious conclusion to the season for Ghana's Iddrisu Baba at Real Mallorca, Getafe's Djene Dakonam and Cadiz defender Carlos Akapo among others.
English League Championship
Fulham and Bournemouth have already secured their return to the Premier League through automatic promotion, meaning Dominic Solanke, Denis Odoi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Jean Michael Seri and Neeskens Kebano are in contention to feature in the top flight next term.
One promotion spot remains to be settled via the playoffs, where Luton Town will be desperate to welcome back Nigerian forward Elijah Adebayo for the second leg of their semifinal against Huddersfield Town.
The 24-year-old has 16 league goals this season -- putting him joint eighth in the division -- but he missed Friday's drawn first leg due to injury.
Congo goalkeeper Brice Samba should be in action for Nottingham Forest when they take on Sheffield United in the second leg of their semifinal, after Forest won the first leg 2-1.