AFRICAN ALL STARS: Mbeumo makes history as Salah on target again

It was another sparkling weekend for Africa’s stars in Europe’s elite leagues as they provided goals and assists aplenty for their clubs.

We round up the best of the performers from the weekend.

CARLOS BALEBA (CAMEROON & BRIGHTON)

Cameroon midfielder Baleba scored his first goal in the Premier League and just the second of his league career as Brighton went toe-to-toe with Chelsea but came out on the wrong side of a 4-2 scoreline. Baleba also got an assist when he set up Georginio Rutter for the first goal of the game, before he received a poor pass out from the back by Chelsea goalkeeper and finished to make it 3-2. But Cole Palmer’s four goals for The Blues won the day.

NICOLAS JACKSON (SENEGAL & CHELSEA)

Jackson was not on the scoresheet this weekend but he did provide an assist for Palmer in Chelsea’s first goal. It was an unselfish piece of play too as he picked up on a poor pass out of defence, went round the goalkeeper and then squared for Palmer to score. Having scored four goals already this season he might have looked to add to that tally, but showed he is a team man too. There is something bubbling up at Stamford Bridge this season and he is a big part of it.

BRYAN MBEUMO (CAMEROON & BRENTFORD)

Quite remarkably, Brentford became the first team in Premier League history to score inside the first minute in three consecutive matches, and Mbeumo has two of those. Yoane Wissa netted against Manchester City after 22 seconds, then Mbeumo did likewise versus Tottenham. He then repeated the feat with a goal just after the 30-second mark when he volleyed in against West Ham on Saturday. Brentford could not hold on and drew 1-1, but that is now five goals in six games for the winger.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Salah had not scored in Liverpool’s previous two Premier League games, a mini drought for the Egyptian given the exceptionally high standards that he sets. But he was back among the goals, albeit from the penalty spot, as the Reds defeated Wolves 2-1 to move to the summit of the Premiership, so giving new manager Arne Slot the best start of any tactician in the club’s illustrious history. That is four goals and four assists in six Premier League games this season for Salah.

RAYAN AIT-NOURI (ALGERIA & WOLVES)

Wolves had earlier drawn level in the game through their impressive left-back Ait-Nouri, who continues to catch the eye with his performances. It was a tap-in from a scramble in the box, but he will not care how they come as he kept up his record of scoring in all the Premier League for the fifth season in a row. He managed two goals last term and will now look to beat that in this campaign. Wolves remain winless though with a single point from six matches so far this season and sit bottom of the table.

WILFRED NDIDI (NIGERIA & LEICESTER)

Leicester rallied superbly from two goals down to draw level with Arsenal, but the Gunners’ quality shone in the end as two injury-time goals saw them win 4-2, leaving Leicester still without a victory this campaign. James Justin scored both Leicester’s goals and his second was laid on by Ndidi. The latter found space on the left and his pinpoint cross was perfect for Justin to volley into the back of the net. It was a fourth assist of the campaign for Ndidi, who is proving a real creative spark this season.

PAPE SARR (SENEGAL & TOTTENHAM)

Tottenham’s impressive 3-0 win at Manchester United has piled the pressure on Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag and perhaps eased the spotlight a little on Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou. Sarr played his part with a flick-on at a corner to allow Dominic Solanke to score the visitors’ third goal and seal the points. Sarr got three goals and three assists last season and is now off the mark in this campaign in terms of goal contributions.

BOULAYE DIA (SENEGAL & LAZIO)

Dia continued his excellent start to the season as Lazio edged Torino 3-2 in a five-goal thriller in Turin. The Senegal forward now has three goals in Serie A, and five in six games in all competitions. Dia drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net from the middle of the box after Torino hesitated in defence, showing his killer instinct. It has been quite some start for him at his new club after a move from relegated Salernitana, where he netted just four times in Serie A last season.

Saul Coco (Equatorial Guinea & Torino)

Coco was also on the scoresheet in the game as he pulled a goal back in injury time to give Torino hope. It was a superb goal too as he volleyed the ball into the far corner of the net, showing great technique and ambition. It was his second goal of the season having also netted against Venezia in August.

JORDAN ZEMURA (ZIMBABWE & UDINESE)

Udinese lost 3-2 at home to champions Inter Milan but made their opponents sweat in a tough battle in Udine. Zemura laid on his side’s first goal that made the score 1-1 in the first half as his superb delivery from the right was guided into the net with his head by Christian Kabasele. It was a first assist of the season for Zemura, who was a constant threat from wide areas.

ALIEU FADERA (GAMBIA & COMO)

Como made it back-to-back wins with a 3-2 victory over Verona and they got off the mark as Fadera provided the assist for Patrick Cutrone’s opening goal. Fadera’s ball into the box found Cutrone, whose deflected shot looped into the far corner of the net. Fadera is in his first season in Serie A after a move from Belgian side Genk and already has a goal under his belt as well. It is a promising start for the 22-year-old.

JACKSON TCHATCHOUA (CAMEROON & HELLAS VERONA)

Tchatchoua got an assist late on for Verona as they pulled the game back to 2-3, but eventually ran out of time. His low cross from the right found Mathis Lambourde, who showed great control, beat his defender and scored. Tchatchoua has started every game so far this season for Verona and also had a goal to his name.

DJENE DAKONAM (TOGO & GETAFE)

Getafe picked up a first win of the season as they beat Alaves 2-0 at home, and had defender Djené Dakonam to thank as he helped them to a clean sheet. The 32-year-old Togolese star was also captain for the day as Getafe moved out of the relegation zone and will hope they can now go on a run of form to move well away from the bottom three. Djené is in his eighth season with the club and is still as important as ever to their cause.