Africans abroad: Goals galore for African stars in Europe

It was a profitable weekend for African stars playing in Europe’s top leagues with several on the scoresheet and others making major contributions.

We round up the top performers as they now prepare to link up with their national teams in the Fifa international break.

LYLE FOSTER (BURNLEY & SOUTH AFRICA)

Foster continues to shine for Burnley and while there was no goal this week, he did manage an assist in the 4-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, laying on the opening goal for 18-year-old Wilson Odobert with a clever pass. Burnley could not sustain their challenge though and are still searching for a Premier League win following their promotion, but Foster has been one of the bright sparks for them as he heads off on international duty with Bafana Bafana against Eswatini and Ivory Coast. He has three goals and two assists for Burnley in six Premier League games, averaging a goal contribution almost every game.

MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL & EGYPT)

Salah has not always been at his best so far this season, but came to life for Liverpool in their 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion. His first was a trade-mark left-footed finish that was typically clinical, before he added a second from the penalty-spot. Liverpool could not hold on for the win though. Salah has five goals and four assists in eight Premier League games, showing just why The Reds were so desperate to block his move to Saudi Arabia. Salah will be on international duty in this window as The Pharaohs play Zambia and Algeria in friendly matches in the United Arab Emirates.

NICOLAS JACKSON (CHELSEA & SENEGAL)

It has not been an easy start to life at Chelsea for Senegal striker Jackson, who has made the big move from Villarreal in Spain and found the pace of the game in the Premier League a tough adjustment. But he scored his second goal for Chelsea in their 4-1 win over Burnley, coming off the bench to slot home from Cole Palmer’s excellent assist. It will be a huge relief, strikers are judged on goals and the expectations are high on the 22-year-old. Jackson has been included in national team coach Aliou Cisse’s squad for a friendly against Cameroon in Paris next Monday.

MOHAMMED KUDUS (WEST HAM & GHANA)

Kudus was blocked from making a move to Everton in January this year but completed his Premier League dream by joining Uefa Conference League champions West Ham United. He has had to bide his time on the bench so far in the Premier League, but scored his first goal in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday, drilling in a low shot from the edge of the both on 89 minutes to earn a point for his side. He had already scored twice for The Hammers in the Europa League against Serbian side TSC. He will be on international duty with Ghana in friendlies against Mexico and the United States over the next 10 days.

ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (EVERTON & MALI)

Doucoure has turned into a real goal-scoring asset for Everton and netted his third of the season in the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, blasting home from close-range as the ball fell to him in the box. It is his sixth goal in 12 Premier League games, not a bad return for a midfielder who also does his fair share of defensive work. It was a first home win for Everton as they finally found their scoring boots having averaged the second most number of chances created per game in the Premier League without being able to find the back of the net. Doucoure has taken a break from playing for Mali so will not be in action this international window.

SIMON ADINGRA (BRIGHTON & IVORY COAST)

The 21-year-old Ivory Coast striker scored his second Premier League goal following a move from Royal Union St Gilloise in Belgium, netting the opener in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool. He picked the pocket of former Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and fired home, a clever piece of play that showed all his ingenuity. It is a third goal contribution in seven appearances (three starts) this season for a player packed with potential. He has been included in the Ivory Coast squad for the international friendlies against Morocco and Bafana Bafana for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosts.

JONATHAN BAMBA (CELTA VIGO & IVORY COAST)

The big midfielder finally opened his account in LaLiga this season as he scored an equaliser in Celta Vigo’s 2-2 home draw with Getafe. He started all nine games and will be relieved to break his duck following his move from Lille at the end of last season, where he was a regular scorer. He raced onto a pass on the edge of the box, burst into the area and finished with aplomb. He is also in the Ivorian squad for matches against Morocco and Bafana Bafana.

YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (SEVILLA & MOROCCO)

The Morocco star left it very late but scored a 96th minute equaliser as Sevilla came from 2-0 down to snatch a 2-2 draw with Rayo Vallecano. It will be no surprise to hear it was a towering header from a corner as visiting goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski came for the ball and got nowhere near it. It is a third goal in five starts in LaLiga this season, but his third in as many games having also netted in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven. He will play for Morocco in a friendly against Ivory Coast and also a final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia that was held over from last month due to the devastating earthquake in Morocco.

VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI & NIGERIA)

The striker was back on target for Napoli but it was not enough as they lost 3-1 at home to Fiorentina in a shock defeat. Osimhen had them level at halftime after converting a penalty for his sixth goal in seven Serie A starts this season, and third in as many games, but the defeat will sting for the champions. He appears to have put behind him any ill-feeling with the club following their demeaning social media posts around him, but Napoli have already slipped seven points behind in the title race. He has been included in the Nigeria squad for friendlies with Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in this international window. Both games will be played in Portugal.

HOUSSEM AOUAR (ROMA & ALGERIA)

The Algeria international midfielder scored his second goal for Roma since his move to Serie A from Lille in France at the start of this season. They won 4-1 away at Cagliari as Aouar netted the opener on 19 minutes, a simple finish after being set up in the box. He turned and fired past the goalkeeper with not a defender in sight. It has been a strong start to life in Italy for the 25-year-old and he will hope that continues through the campaign. Aouer is a former France international who has been able to switch allegiances and made his Algeria debut earlier this year. They play Cape Verde and Egypt in friendlies in this international window.