African ALL Stars: Salah gets crucial win for Liverpool, Williams on target in LaLiga

It was a big weekend for Africa’s stars in Europe with goals and assists galore. We pick out the best of the performers.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Liverpool look like they may be entering a two-horse race with Manchester City for the Premier League title this season and they secured a fine 2-1 home win over a talented young Chelsea side on Sunday. Salah scored from the penalty-spot and then provided an assist to continue his excellent start to life under new coach Arne Slot. That is now five goals and five assists for the Egyptian striker in eight starts in the Premier League, showing his incredible value to the team. Liverpool have scored 15 goals in the league so far this season and two-thirds of them have come from Salah.

NICOLAS JACKSON (SENEGAL & CHELSEA)

Jackson scored his fifth goal in eight Premier League starts this season when eh equalised for Chelsea at Anfield, but it was in a losing cause. Jackson beat the offside trap so skilfully the goal was initially ruled offside, but the VAR ruled he was on. He also had three assists so is going at a goal contribution per game this season, having had 19 in 31 starts in 2023/24.

ILIMAN NDIAYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)

Ndiaye has been a superb signing for Everton so far and transformed their attack already as a left sided forward who can dribble with the ball, beat defenders and provide an end product. Everton have arguably not had that on the left since Richarlison left for Tottenham Hotspur. He took advantage of some hesitancy in the Ipswich Town defence to win the ball in the box and smash in a shot from 10-yards that left the keeper with no chance. If he keeps his form, it is unlikely Everton will be involved in a relegation battle again this season.

YVES BISSOUMA (MALI & TOTTENHAM)

The Mali midfielder had not sored for Tottenham Hotspur in 53 games before this season but already has two in five Premier League games and both have been crackers. He has always had goals in his locker, he showed that at former side Brighton & Hove Albion, but for whatever reason struggled for them at the Tottenham Stadium … until now. He got his side’s second goal in their come-from-behind 4-1 home win over West Ham United.

MOHAMMED KUDUS (GHANA & WEST HAM)

Kudus has had a tough start to the season but there have been signs in recent weeks he is starting to find his best form, though this game ended in bitter disappointment. He gave West Ham the lead against Tottenham with a superb strike from the edge of the box that found its way in after he was set up by Jarrod Bowen. But he later was handed a red card after a fracas with several Tottenham players that he should have stayed out of.

JORDAN AYEW (GHANA & LEICESTER)

Leicester City second a dramatic 3-2 victory over hosts Southampton with a goal in the 98th minute from Ayew to spark wild scenes of celebration. The Foxes had trailed 2-0 at winless Southampton and it appeared like it was going to be a tough weekend on the south coast. They trailed until the 64th minute but pulled it back to 2-2 before Ayew popped up with his magic moments. He collected the ball on the edge of the area from a corner having been left unmarked and his low shot found its way into the net.

JOE ARIBO (NIGERIA & SOUTHAMPTON)

Southampton had doubled their lead in the game when Nigerian Aribo scored their second just before the half-hour mark. It was a fine team move that ended with Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross finds Aribo, and he provided a neat finish. The 28-year-old netted twice in Southampton’s previous season in the Premier League in 2022/23, and also four times in their promotion push in the last campaign. This was his first goal contribution this season.

INAKI WILLIAMS (GHANA AND ATHLETIC BILBAO)

Williams and his brother Nico have been in fine form for Athletic Bilbao and it was Inaki who got a brace of goals in the 4-1 thumping of Espanyol. Both his goals were assisted by Álex Berenguer, while Nico also got an assist for Dani Vivian’s opener. Inaki’s goals came within two minutes of each other as he fired home from 15 yards, before he then drilled the ball home from the right of the box into the top-left corner. That is now three goals and four assists in nine starts for Inaki in LaLiga this season.

MAMADOU SYLLA (SENEGAL & VALLADOLID)

Real Valladolid earned a 3-2 away win at Alaves in LaLiga and central to their success was Senegal star Sylla, who grabbed a goal and an assist. His strike came from the penalty-spot to equalise the game at 1-1, before he laid on his team’s third for Anuar Tuhami. They are the first goal contributions for Sylla this season as the forward enters his second campaign with the team.

ANUAR TUHAMI (MOROCCO & VALLADOLID)

Moroccan Tuhami netted his first goal of the season in his second appearance for what proved the winner for Real Valladolid. Sylla’s quick break saw Tuhami collect the ball in the centre of the goal and he drilled it into the net with a composed finish. The Spanish-born 29-year-old played an important role in getting Valladolid back into LaLiga last season so will be hoping to follow that up with a big campaign in the elite league.

SELIM AMALLAH (MOROCCO & VALLADOLID)

Amallah was also on target for Valladolid as he netted a second penalty in the game for the side, making it three out of three African scorers. Amallah spent last season on loan at Valencia while Valladolid were in the second tier, and did not find the back of the net for the side, but he already has two goals this campaign to go with an assist. It is a good start for the 27-year-old.

YVAN NEYOU (CAMEROON & LEGANES)

It was a tough afternoon for Leganes at Atletico Madrid as they went down 3-1, but there was a bright moment for Cameroonian Neyou, as he found the back of the net. He gave Leganes the lead just past the half-hour mark, which they held until a little over 20 minutes to go and then capitulated. He fired a shot into the top corner of the goal for an emphatic finish that adds to an assist earlier in the campaign in his six starts. The midfielder has already equalled his tally of goals from 35 appearances last SEASON, so will be hopeful of bettering that mark this campaign.

SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (NIGERIA & AC MILAN)

Chukwueze scored the only goal of the game as AC Milan edged Udinese 1-0 in Serie A to secure three points for his side. He was set up by American Christian Pulišić, who unselfishly set up the Nigerian star, the latter providing a pinpoint finish. It was a first goal of the season for the 25-year-old and he will hope the first of many having netted just once last season.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Abdul Fatawu provided an assist for Leicester City’s Facundo Buonanotte as they scored their first goal in the epic comeback against Southampton, while Alieu Fadera set up Nicolás Paz's equaliser for Como in their 1-1 draw with Parma. Fiorentina thumped Lecce 6-0 and Christian Kouame set up Lucas Beltrán for their fifth. Finally, Abdel Abqar got an assist as Alaves lost to Real Valladolid, teeing up Kike García, but it was too little, too late.