A Progressively Exciting Week for African Players in European Leagues

It was a vibrant week for African players competing in Europe’s top football leagues, showcasing their brilliance for their clubs amid a variety of outcomes.

ENGLAND

Mohamed Salah was pivotal once more as Liverpool secured a thrilling late 1-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor.

As the match appeared to be heading for a frustrating draw, a handball by Hannibal Mejbri gave the Egypt international a golden opportunity to score from the penalty spot. Despite not recording a single shot during the game, Salah stepped up and fired the ball into the top corner, sealing an important win for his team.

In another match, Pape Matar Sarr led Tottenham Hotspur to a commanding 3-0 victory over West Ham United. After a scoreless first half, Sarr took advantage of West Ham’s defensive errors just after the break to set the tone for the second half. West Ham’s situation worsened when Tomas Soucek received a red card for a reckless foul on Joao Palhinha. Tottenham took full advantage, with Lucas Bergvall netting a goal, followed by Micky van de Ven to wrap up the victory.

Meanwhile, at the Vitality Stadium, Antoine Semenyo continued his impressive Premier League form with a goal and an assist in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. The Ghanaian set up Alex Scott for a fantastic left-footed strike early on. Kaoru Mitoma equalized for Brighton early in the second half, but Semenyo restored Bournemouth’s lead from the spot after a foul on Evanilson, marking their third consecutive win and pushing them to fourth place.

ITALY

Caleb Ekuban emerged as the hero for Genoa, coming off the bench to score a last-gasp equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Como. After Como took an early lead through Nico Paz, they held firm until a late red card changed the dynamics of the match. Deep into stoppage time, Ekuban managed to secure a hard-fought point for his team.

In another match, Sassuolo registered their first win of the season with Alieu Fadera’s close-range goal against injury-stricken Lazio. Côte d’Ivoire’s Konan Ndri netted Lecce’s only goal in their 4-1 defeat against Atalanta, who notably left Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman out of the squad.

GERMANY

Serhou Guirassy was the standout player as Borussia Dortmund maintained their unbeaten run with a 2-0 triumph over a 10-man Heidenheim. After Budu Zivzivadze was sent off for a late tackle, Guirassy opened the scoring with a powerful header, and Maximilian Beier added a second just before halftime, ensuring Dortmund secured all three points despite a spirited second-half effort from Heidenheim.

Andreas Hountondji made history with St. Pauli, becoming the first player to score in each of the club’s opening three Bundesliga games as they won 2-1 over Augsburg. Augsburg initially led through a header from Fabian Rieder, but Hountondji equalized just before the break after his penalty was saved. Late in the match, Danel Sinani’s deflected strike secured the victory for St. Pauli.

SPAIN

Etta Eyong had an instant impact in his Levante debut by scoring the team’s second goal in a 2-2 draw against Real Betis. Levante took an early lead with an opening goal from Ivan Romero, followed by Eyong who skillfully found the net after dribbling past the goalkeeper. Despite Betis pulling one back before halftime and equalizing later in the game, Levante showed tenacity throughout.

FRANCE

Jean-Philippe Gbamin opened the scoring for Angers in their 1-1 draw with Metz. The Côte d’Ivoire international headed the ball in from close range, but a missed penalty by Habib Diallo preserved the draw for Angers. Shortly after, substitutes Himad Abdelli and Prosper Peter helped create chances, with Abdelli scoring a late penalty to ensure a share of the points.

Meanwhile, Nayef Aguerd played a key role in Marseille’s dominating 4-0 victory over 10-man Lorient, scoring a deflected long-range strike late in the match. Marseille took early control following a penalty conversion by Mason Greenwood after Lorient was reduced to ten players due to a foul. Benjamin Pavard and Angel Gomes also found the net as Marseille’s decisive victory marked a significant improvement in their Ligue 1 performance.