European preview: France

Songo'o is back at Metz after leaving Spain

BBC Sport Online's Filippo Maria Ricci continues a regular series previewing the new season for African players in Europe's major leagues by focusing on France's Le Championnat

French interest in African players seems to have suddenly revived this summer after a fallow period, with 30 on the move in the top flight.

It takes the total to 80 Africans in the top flight, with many more hoping to break through from youth level.

Back from abroad came Cameroon's veteran keeper Jacques Songo'o to former club Metz after losing his first-choice spot at Deportivo Coruna where he won the Spanish League in 2000.

Moroccan striker Salaheddine Bassir also moved from Deportivo - where he had not played at all for the last two of his four seasons there - to join Lille who shocked everyone by finishing third last season.

Bassir is glad to be playing at last

Highly-rated young Togo striker Adekanmi Olufade could link up with Bassir after joining Lille from Belgian side Lokeren.

The other moves in were Senegal striker Henri Camara from Grasshoppers Zurich to Sedan, and Nigerian international wing-back Joseph Yobo from Standard Liege to Marseille.

Musical chairs

Ivorian defender Cyril Domoraud spent the summer playing musical chairs, going back to Inter Milan after a season on loan at Bastia, switching to AC Milan and then being loaned out again to Monaco.

Only one player was signed from an African club, young Nigerian defender Philip Anianka going to Auxerre from Benin club Cotonou.

Three players left the country, including Nigerian defender Godwin Okpara, who will hope for a regular spot at last after leaving Paris SG for Standard Liege.

Okpara left PSG for a regular place

Moroccan defender Reda Madouni went to Borussia Dortmund after five seasons at Montpellier while Cameroon defender Ernest Oben Etchi extended his loan at Belgian side Charleroi from Lens.

Of the moves inside France, Algerian midfielder Moussa Saib moved from Auxerre to Monaco after getting his career back on track last season.

Senegalese sensation El-Hadji Diouf was sold by Rennes to Lens where he was on loan last season, and hugely promising Malian midfielder Salif Keita was bought from Marseille by Lorient, who he helped win promotion last term.

Relegation escapees

He will play alongside another youngster of great promise, Guinea striker Pascal Feindouno, who moved from Bordeaux.

Ivory Coast's Tchiressoa Guel and Senegal captain Pape Sarr both escaped relegated St Etienne to join Lorient and Lens respectively.

Sarr was picked up by Lens

And Moroccan international defender Gharib Amzine switched from relegated Strasbourg to Troyes.

Three youngsters signed their first professional contracts - Malian defender Adama Coulibaly with Lens, and Cameroonian pair Eric Djemba-Djemba and Jean-Hugues Bilayi Ateba with champions Nantes.

Sedan and Monaco have seven Africans in all on their books, while Bastia, Lens, Lille, Lorient and Troyes all have six.

Senegal have a total of 18 players in the French top flight, many of whom play for the national side, while Algeria have 11, Cameroon ten and Ivory Coast nine.