AFRICANS ABROAD: Mbeumo, Wissa among Africa’s stars again

The season is drawing to a close around Europe, but there are still some matters to be decided and Africa’s leading players are having their say in helping their clubs achieve their goals.

There were more superb performances over the weekend with goals and assists as the continent continues to make its mark in Europe’s elite leagues.

BRYAN MBEUMO (CAMEROON & BRENTFORD)

Brentford have had a tough old season with Ivan Toney and Mbeumo spending large parts of it on the slides for differing reasons, but it is fair to say things would have been much better had the latter in particular been fit all the way through.

Mbeumo has proven one of the Premier League’s best wingers in the last two seasons and was at it again at the weekend with a goal and an assist in the 2-1 victory at Bournemouth.

His goal came from a perfectly weighted volley pass from Yoane Wissa and the Cameroon international supplied the finish, before he turned provider for the DR Congo star with an assist to net a 95th minute winner.

That is now 15 goal contributions (nine goals) in 21 Premier League starts this season for the 24-year-old. Brentford will do well to hold into him going into the new campaign.

YOANE WISSA (DR CONGO & BRENTFORD)

Wissa too got a goal and an assist as his All-African partnership with Mbeumo continues to flourish.

It was his superbly weighted pass that allowed his teammate to score the Brentford opener against Bournemouth, before he received a pass from Mbeumo that he simply smashed into the back of the net, giving the keeper no chance.

In the absences of Toney and Mbeumo this season, Wissa has taken on much of the scoring responsibility and certainly delivered.

He has 11 goals and two assists, easily his best season since moving to England from Lorient in 2021/22.

ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (MALI & EVERTON)

Everton have long secured their safety but set a new club record in the 1-0 victory over Sheffield United at Goodison Park, their fifth home win in a row without conceding a goal.

That form moved them away from the drop zone despite having eight points deducted this season, without which they would be level with 11th-placed Brighton & Hive Albion.

Doucoure has been their joint leading scorer in the Premier League with seven goals, the same number as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and those two combined to beat United.

Dwight McNeil played a through-ball for Calvert-Lewin, who drew the keeper before providing a cross that was easy for Doucoure to head home.

That is now nine goal contributions for the Frenchman in the Premier League this season.

WILLY BOLY (IVORY COAST & NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

Nottingham Forest new a point at home to Chelsea would secure their mathematical safety and while they lost 3-2 to The Blues, it would take a remarkable sequence of results on the final day to see them relegated.

After they trailed early, defender Boly drew them level with a headed goal from Morgan Gibbs-White’s assist.

It is a second goal of what has been a difficult season for the 33-year-old Ivorian, but which should end in survival and a look ahead to some brighter days in the future.

NICOLAS JACKSON (SENEGAL & CHELSEA)

Jackson continues to confound his critics as he got the winner for Chelsea at Nottingham Forest.

He has perfected the art of the tap-in, or free header, but it doesn’t matter how you score, they all count eh same and he will point to being at the right place at the right time, a skill and art all of its own.

It was his fourth goal in three games and took his tally in the Premier League to 14 in his maiden campaign, more than the 12 he managed for Villarreal in LaLiga last season.

Add to those five assists and he is on 19 goal contributions in 29 Premier League starts in 2023-24.

MOHAMMED KUDUS (GHANA & WEST HAM)

West Ham United sunk what will be the final nail in Luton Town’s survival coffin as they came from behind to win 3-1 and all but relegated the Hatters.

Kudus had earlier missed what he would consider a sitter, striking the outside of the post with the goal gaping, so will be pleased to at least have provided an assist for the Hammers’ third goal for George Earthy.

Kudus provided the trickery on the righthand side of the box and it was his low cross that was turned in by the youngster.

That is now seven goals and sic assists for the Ghanaian this season, a fine introduction to the Premier League.

Question is, can West Ham keep hold of him?

YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (MOROCCO & SEVILLA)

The Moroccan striker can’t stop scoring of late and netted two more for Sevilla this weekend, though he still ended up on the losing side as Villarreal claimed a 3-2 home success.

En-Nesyri’s first was from the penalty-spot as he put his side 1-0 up, before his second was a much more typical goal for him, rising highest above the defence to head home for 2-1.

That is now five LaLiga goals in as many games and 15 for the season, three shy of his career best of 18 in 2020/21.

With three games to go and the form he is in, who says he can’t achieve a personal best.

INAKI WILLIAMS (GHANA & ATHLETIC BILBAO)

Williams is another player in fine scoring form with three in two games now to take his tally for the season to 12, one short of his personal best (13 in 2018-19).

The goal came as he helped Athletic Bilbao rally from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Osasuna and stay on course for Uefa Europa League football next season.

His goal on 58 minutes was an absolute screamer as he picked up the ball on the right-hand side of the box and drilled a shot into the far corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.

This came after having a goal ruled out in the first half. With three assists, that is 15 goal-contributions for Williams this season.

ISMAIL BENNACER (ALGERIA & AC MILAN)

AC Milan put in one of their best displays of the season as they thumped Cagliari 5-1, and setting them on their way was the Algerian Bennacer.

It was not only the opening goal of the game, but also his opening strike for the season as he finally broke his duck just as the curtain is drawing on the campaign.

His goal was not a classic, after a scramble in the box he finished, but that was not the end of his contribution as he later provided an assists for Rafael Leao to score Milan’s fourth with a superb defence-splitting pass to set the forward on his way.

Bennacer tripled his number of goal contributions this season in a single game.