African Players at S.L. Benfica
Portugal · Primeira Liga · founded 1904 · Estádio da Luz
57African players
6Nations (3+)
1Current
S.L. Benfica have fielded 57 African players from 15 countries according to Wikidata.
The best-represented nation is Angola with 14 players.
The earliest arrival on record is Augusto Matine (1969).
1 African player currently on the books: Souffian El Karouani.
Vata Matanu Garcia scored the most goals for the club among them (42).
Nationalities on the map
All players
| Player | Nation | Years | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| João Mário |  Angola | 2021–2025 | 94 | 23 |
| Freddy Adu |  Ghana | 2007–2011 | 11 | 2 |
| Rafik Halliche |  Algeria | 2008–2010 | 0 | 0 |
| Abel Xavier |  Mozambique | 1993–1995 | 45 | 4 |
| Adel Taarabt |  Morocco | 2015–2022 | 129 | 2 |
| Bruma |  Guinea-Bissau | 2025–2026 | 13 | 1 |
| Hassan Yebda | Algeria | 2008–2011 | 25 | 1 |
| Javier Balboa |  Equatorial Guinea | 2008–2011 | 10 | 0 |
| Mehdi Carcela-González | Morocco | 2015– | – | – |
| Akwá | Angola | 1994–1997 | 5 | 0 |
| Issa Kaboré |  Burkina Faso | 2024–2025 | – | – |
| Tyronne Ebuehi |  Nigeria | 2018–2019 | – | – |
| Florentino Luís | Angola | ?– | – | – |
| Hany Mukhtar |  Sudan | 2015–2015 | 1 | 0 |
| Hélder Costa | Angola | 2012–2015 | – | – |
| Mantorras | Angola | 2001–2011 | 101 | 29 |
| Marco Zoro |  Ivory Coast | 2007–2011 | 2 | 1 |
| Hassan Nader | Morocco | 1995–1997 | 17 | 7 |
| Abdelkrim El Hadrioui | Morocco | 1997–1998 | 22 | 0 |
| Alfa Semedo | Guinea-Bissau | ?– | – | – |
| Tahar El Khalej | Morocco | 1997–2000 | 72 | 10 |
| Yannick Djaló | Guinea-Bissau | 2012–2016 | 3 | 0 |
| Ariza Makukula |  DR Congo | 2008–2009 | 18 | 3 |
| Souffian El Karouani now | Morocco | 2026–now | 2 | 0 |
| Armando Sá | Mozambique | 2002–2004 | 48 | 1 |
| José Gomes | Guinea-Bissau | 2016–2021 | 3 | 0 |
| Samuel Okunowo | Nigeria | 1999–2000 | 9 | 1 |
| Shéu | Mozambique | 1972–1989 | 349 | 33 |
| Clésio Bauque | Mozambique | 2015–2016 | 1 | 0 |
| Gilles Binya |  Cameroon | 2007–2010 | 23 | 0 |
| Abdel Sattar Sabry |  Egypt | 2000–2001 | 37 | 8 |
| Paulo António Alves | Angola | 1995–1997 | 23 | 3 |
| Richard Daddy Owubokiri | Nigeria | 1988–1989 | 4 | 0 |
| Vata Matanu Garcia | Angola | 1988–1991 | 92 | 42 |
| Daniel Kenedy | Guinea-Bissau | 1993–1996 | 59 | 3 |
| Ednilson | Guinea-Bissau | 2001–2005 | 43 | 0 |
| Hajry Redouane | Morocco | 1987–1988 | 4 | 0 |
| Afonso Abel de Campos | Angola | 1988–1990 | 49 | 8 |
| Ishmael Yartey | Ghana | 2009–2012 | 0 | 0 |
| Lassana Camará | Guinea-Bissau | 2010–2011 | 0 | 0 |
| André Neles | Equatorial Guinea | 2000–2004 | 9 | 1 |
| Augusto Matine | Mozambique | 1969–1973 | 31 | 0 |
| Binawari Williams Ajuwa | Nigeria | 1999–2002 | – | – |
| Evandro Brandão | Angola | 2010–2011 | 0 | 0 |
| Tueba Menayane | DR Congo | 1986–1988 | 28 | 2 |
| Edi Semedo |  Cape Verde | ?– | – | – |
| José Veiga | Cape Verde | 1995–1996 | 0 | 0 |
| Rodolfo Lima | Cape Verde | 2004–2007 | 0 | 0 |
| Boti Goa | Ivory Coast | 2007–2008 | – | – |
| Jolina Amani now | Cape Verde | 2020–now | – | – |
| José Quitongo | Angola | 1992–1994 | – | – |
| Marco Freitas | Angola | 1998–1998 | 1 | 0 |
| Tiquinho | Angola | 2002–2004 | – | – |
| Toy | Cape Verde | 2000–2001 | 4 | 0 |
| Inzaghi Donígio | Guinea-Bissau | 2006–2008 | 0 | 0 |
| João Mawete | Angola | 1999–2001 | 7 | 2 |
| Pedro Paulo Lubamba | Angola | 2019–2021 | – | – |
Years and appearances from Wikidata career statements (league appearances where recorded).