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African ALL Stars: Foster back in the goals, Semenyo stars again

football13 January 2025 11:15| © Mzansi Football
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It was a massive weekend for African players in domestic competitions across Europe with goals and assists aplenty to show their value to their teams.

We pick out some of the top performers.

LYLE FOSTER (SOUTH AFRICA & BURNLEY)

Foster is fit again after picking up an injury on national team duty with South Africa in October, and netted his first Burnley goal since August. He put his side into the FA Cup fourth round as they defeated fellow English Championship side Reading 3-1 after extra-time. With Burnley very much in the promotion hunt and South Africa looking for a pair of wins in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in March, this is a crucial time for Foster.

 

 

ANTOINE SEMENYO (GHANA & BOURNEMOUTH)

Bournemouth crushed Championship West Brom 5-1 in their FA Cup third round tie and central to that success was the Ghanaian Semenyo, who grabbed a goal and an assist. He did so coming off the bench as well as The Cherries rested several first team regulars, first netting his side’s fourth goal within two minutes of coming on at halftime, and then laying on a late assist for Daniel Jebbison. Semenyo showed again why he has been one of Bournemouth’s leading stars this season.

DANGO OUATTARA (BURKINA FASO & BOURNEMOUTH)

Another top performer for Bournemouth this campaign has been left-wingback Ouattara, who added two more goals to his tally for the season. The Cherries had fallen behind, but after Justin Kluivert equalised, Ouattara more or less sewed up the tie before halftime with a brace. Following goals against Fulham and Ipswich, he now has four strikes since the start of December, not bad for a player mostly used as a wingback. He was, however, a striker against West Brom.

BETO (GUINEA-BISSAU & EVERTON)

There has been much speculation that Beto may leave Everton in January with a return to Italy on the cards. Whether that changes with the arrival of new manager David Moyes to replace Sean Dyche remains to be seen. Everton remain desperately short of goals this season and got a rare win from open player in their 2-0 FA Cup third round win over third-tier Peterborough. Their 17-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong laid a perfect pass for Beto to round the goalkeeper and score. It was a third goal of the season for Beto, who to be fair has mostly been used off the bench.

ILIMAN NDIAYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)

Ndiaye has been one of the few bright sparks for Everton this season, with his pace and trickery on the left wing. He ensured victory in their tie with Peterborough after he scored a late penalty to cap a bright performance. He now has five goals this campaign and is the club’s top-scorer, adding to his fine strike against Manchester City on Boxing Day. If Everton are to climb the table then Ndiaye will play a big part in that.

RAYAN AIT-NOURI (ALGERIA & WOLVES)

Ever-improving Wolves were made to work hard but came away with a 2-1 victory over Championship side Bristol City. They were set on their way by an opener from Algerian full-back Ait-Nouri, who continues to be a key attacking threat for the side with a fourth goal of the campaign. At just 23, he looks like he will turn into a top player with experience and there will be plenty of bigger clubs keeping an eye on him.

KAMALDEEN SULEMANA (GHANA & SOUTHAMPTON)

Southampton were in desperate need of a win for a boost in confidence and got that with a 3-0 success against Championship Swansea City. It is a first win for the team in 12 games, dating back to the start of November, and new manager Ivan Juric will hope a corner has been turned. Sulemana has not had all that many chances in the Premier League this campaign, but when given an opportunity in the FA Cup, took it. He scored his side’s opener and then laid on a second for 18-year-old Tyler Dibling. The goal was Sulemana’s first since he netted a brace in the epic 4-4 draw with Liverpool in May 2023.

 

 

RAYAN KOLLI (ALGERIA & QPR)

It was a tough day in the office for Championship Queens Park Rangers as they lost 6-2 at Leicester City, but their Algerian striker Kolli had a hand in both goals. He first laid on a striker for Jonathan Varane to score his first ever senior team goal, before adding a second just before halftime. That made the score 3-2 and QPR had some hope before their hosts ran away with it in the second period. Kolli has been on a decent run since the start of December with four goals.

BILAL EL KHANNOUSS (MOROCCO & LEICESTER)

On the other side was El Khannouss, who provided two assists in three minutes for Leicester. He laid on the first for Stephy Mavididi, before minutes later doing likewise for Facundo Buonanotte. The Moroccan only has a single goal and assist in the Premier League, so has already doubled that number since his arrival from Belgian outfit Genk.

PATSON DAKA (ZAMBIA & LEICESTER)

Daka has had a terrible time with injury but is back in contention at Leicester and marked a rare start with an assist for James Justin. Daka has only made a single Premier League start all season, and found the back of the net once in the 2-1 win over West Ham last month. He scored goals for fun at Austrian side Salzburg previously – 51 in the league in two seasons – and would love to find his groove in the Premiership.

YANKUBA MINTEH (GAMBIA & BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION)

Gambia winger Minteh may have had a slow start to the campaign, not helped by injury, but has begun to find his feet in recent weeks and become a big influence for Brighton. He laid on the second goal for Georginio Rutter as Brighton eased to a 4-0 away win over Championship Norwich City in the FA Cup third round.

ANDRE-FRANK ZAMBO ANGUISSA (CAMEROON & NAPOLI)

Napoli continued their march at the top of the table with a fifth straight win to open up a four-point lead, albeit they have played two games more than second-placed Inter Milan. Anguissa helped his side to their latest victory, a 2-0 win over Verona, as he crashed a shot in from outside the box just past the hour-mark. It was a fourth goal of the season Serie A for the midfielder

BOULAYE DIA (SENEGAL & LAZIO)

Lazio’s title hopes took a knock when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Como. They took the lead on 14 minutes though as Dia netted his fifth of the campaign in Serie A, but they could not hold on against Cesc Fabregas’ Como. Dia also has two assists this campaign and has already bettered his goals return for Salernitana (4) last season.

EMMANUEL GYASI (GHANA & EMPOLI)

Empoli continue to hover just above the Serie A relegation zone without a win in five, their latest defeat coming in a 3-1 reversal at home to fellow strugglers Lecce. Ghanaian Gyasi at least helped his side pull it back to 2-1 after they had been hit by two early goals, as he provided the assist for New Zealander Liberato Cacace. It was his first assist of the season to go with two goals.

SEYDOUBA CISSE (GUINEA & LEGANES)

Leganes are another side in relegation trouble, this time in LaLiga, and they earned a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Espanyol. Both goals in the game were scored in the first 14 minutes, with Cisse providing an equaliser as he converted Miguel de la Fuente’s assist. It was a second goal of the season for the 23-year-old Guinea international defensive midfielder.

JONATHAN BAMBA (IVORY COAST & CELTA VIGO)

Celta Vigo slipped to a 2-1 loss at Rayo Vallecano to stay marooned in mid-table, but Bamba did have a hand in their goal as he provided the assist for Borja Iglesias. It was his first goal contribution for the season and hopefully the start of much better things in the second half of the campaign.

CHRISTANTUS UCHE (NIGERIA & GETAFE)

Getafe pulled off a crucial win in their battle to beat the drop in LaLiga as they won 2-1 at Las Palmas. Uche laid on the first goal for Coba Gomes da Costa in the 70th minute. It was a first assist of the season to go with a goal for the Nigerian forward, who is still only 21 and developing his game.

ANDY BOYELI (DR CONGO & SEKHUKHUNE)

Boyeli scored the second hat-trick of the Betway Premiership season and his fourth goal in two games as he helped Sekhukhune United brush aside 10-man SuperSport United 3-0 in their league clash on Sunday. All three of his goals came in the second half as he moved to five for the season, one behind leading marksman Iqraam Rayners from Mamelodi Sundowns. The other player to net a treble was Tshegofatso Mabasa in Orlando Pirates’ 8-1 demolition of Marumo Gallants.

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