FOR more than 100 million Africans, including four of the continent’s best footballers and its fourth richest man, Aston Villa’s final battle tomorrow is a personal one.
Villa take on West Ham, at the London Stadium tomorrow, with their fate in their hands, given a victory will guarantee them another dance in the English Premiership, irrespective of what happens elsewhere.

A draw, or even a defeat, could see them survive but that would be dependent on results, elsewhere, going their way in games featuring Bournemouth, who take on Everton, and Watford, who battle Arsenal.
Villa have turned their season around, in the last three games, winning seven out of a possible nine points.

The Birmingham club’s battle for safety has attracted interest throughout the continent given Villa have four African players — Zimbabwe midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, Egyptian internationals, Ahmed Elmohamady and Trezeguet, and Tanzanian forward Mbwana Samatta.

Trezeguet has been the star of the Villa campaign, in the past three games, with some decisive goals which has given his club hope.

One of the Villa owners, Nasser Onsi Sawiris, is the richest Egyptian, and the fourth-richest individual on the continent, with a net wealth of about US$7.6 billion.

With four African stars at Villa, it means the club’s progress has been followed by more than 100 million football fans from Egypt, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

Egyptian wingback, Ahmed Elmohamady, will miss the match against the Hammers, who are already safe, after suffering a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Arsenal on Tuesday-The Herald