The final week of the European season arrives with African players at the heart of title races, European finals and relegation battles, their fortunes set to shape club histories and personal legacies alike.

In France, Achraf Hakimi stands on the brink of African football immortality. Already a Ligue 1 champion again with Paris Saint Germain, the Morocco fullback could equal Samuel Eto’o’s record of three European Cup triumphs if PSG overcome Arsenal in Budapest. Hakimi, decisive in last year’s 5-0 Champions League final win, is racing against time after missing five matches with injury, but club insiders remain cautiously optimistic he will be fit enough to feature. Youngsters Ibrahim Mbaye and Senny Mayulu wait in reserve should he fall short.

England’s spotlight falls on Ismaïla Sarr, whose explosive form has carried Crystal Palace to a historic Conference League final. The Senegal forward leads the competition’s scoring charts and has been central to Oliver Glasner’s bid to deliver a second major trophy in as many seasons. Evann Guessand and Christantus Uche could also play key roles, while injuries cloud the involvement of Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad. Across the pitch, Rayo Vallecano’s Senegalese duo Pathé Ciss and Nobel Mendy chase a first major honour for the Spanish club, with Morocco’s Ilias Akhomach battling to return from a muscle problem in time.

Back in the Premier League, Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool farewell is entwined with the club’s push to secure Champions League qualification. The Egypt icon has the chance to sign off by dragging the Reds over the line, even as they face a Brentford side featuring Dango Ouattara and dreaming of a first ever European campaign. Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki are among the other African talents chasing late European spots.

At the bottom, tension is acute. Tottenham rely on Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma to steady a faltering survival bid, while West Ham’s African contingent Aaron Wan Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Soungoutou Magassa and Mohamadou Kanté must win and hope rivals slip.

In Spain, Ilaix Moriba’s Celta Vigo, Djene Dakonam’s Getafe and Omar El Hilali’s Espanyol are locked in a complex European chase, as Zito Luvumbo, Azzedine Ounahi, Grady Diangana, Enzo Boyomo and Karl Etta Eyong fight relegation. Italy offers its own drama, with Jérémie Boga’s Juventus, Evan Ndicka’s Roma, AC Milan and Assane Diao’s Como contesting Champions League places, while David Okereke’s Cremonese and Lecce’s African core battle to stay in Serie A.