The Premier League's African influence is now being formally celebrated.
And London's African Premier League football players have declared the capital the world's number one destination for foreign sports stars.
Speaking at an awards ceremony, Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto said: "There is something beautiful about London, it is a place that allows you to flourish. When players come to London they find it hard to leave."
Assou-Ekotto, who was born in France but plays for Cameroon, was named last night in the team of the season at Britain's Best of Africa awards celebrating the contribution of the continent's players to football in this country.
He also told the London Evening Standard: "For me London isn't even about being African. Whether you are from Arabia or Eastern Europe, it doesn't matter where you come from."
Arsenal's Alex Song, Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou and Dickson Etuhu of Fulham were also among those in the team named at the May Fair hotel last night. Francis Nkwain, who helped organise the event for Horizon, said it was "a reappraisal of the African contribution to society in general".
He added: "The African team of the season is not just a celebration of Africa but the fact that players are able to flourish in this country.
"There is something amazing about the UK, the energy and the culture. Players from Africa bring their flavour to it but it is because they are allowed to be African."
