African stars on form in Europe’s top leagues

There were goals, assists and great saves from Africa’s contingent in Europe’s top leagues this past weekend, proving once again the huge value players from the continent bring.

We round up some of the top performers.

DANGO OUATTARA (BOURNEMOUTH & BURKINA FASO)

Bournemouth had to come from two goals down to salvage a draw with bottom side Sheffield United and the fightback was led by Burkina Faso winger Ouattara. He scored the first goal and laid on the second as Bournemouth netted twice in the final 16 minutes. His goal came from an unusual source, his head, as he nodded home a corner at the near post, his first home goal in the Premier League, and then had a headed assist as he flicked on a corner and Enes Unal steered the ball in at the back post. That was the first goal, and assist, of the season for Ouattara, so they were long overdue.

YOANE WISSA (BRENTFORD & CONGO)

Wissa grabbed a goal for Brentford in their 2-1 loss to top side Arsenal, though he did have Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to thank as the latter dallied on the ball from a backpass, allowing Wissa to close him down and as the gloveman went to clear, the ball rebounded off the DR Congo forward and into the net. Wissa won’t mind how they come, that was the seventh goal of the Premier League season to go with one assist.

RAYAN AIT-NOURI (WOLVES & ALGERIA)

Ait-Nouri scored his first goal of the Premier League season, and first since December 2022, as he turned the ball in from four yards for Wolves’ opener against Fulham as they went on to win 2-1. The ball fell to him in the box from Toti and he made no mistake with his finish. The 22-year-old Ait-Nouri is now in his fourth season at Wolves and is stamping his authority on the side. His 21 league starts are already more than he has managed in previous campaigns.

ALEX IWOBI (FULHAM & NIGERIA)

Fulham might have lost 2-1 at Wolves, but there was a goal at the death for Nigeria playmaker Iwobi to add to his tally for the season. He managed to stick out a leg and guide the ball past Jose Sa in the home goal from close range, but it was too little too late for the Londoners. Still, it was a second goal in three games for Iwobi and took his tally for the season to five along with a single assist.

PAPE SARR (TOTTENHAM & SENEGAL)

Tottenham took a big step forward in their bid to finish fourth and play Uefa Champions League football next season as they thumped 10-man Aston Villa 4-0 at Villa Park to move to within two points of the top four with a game in hand. Sarr helped to set them on their way when his barnstorming run down the right-hand side finished with a superb cross into the box that was turned into the net by James Maddison. That is now three goals and three assists for midfielder Sarr in the Premier League this season.

ANDRE ONANA (MANCHESTER UNITED & CAMEROON)

Onana kept another clean sheet for Manchester United as they needed two penalties to defeat Everton on Saturday. It was not a vintage United performance but they got the three points, helped in no small part by several very good saves from Onana as Everton had 23 efforts at goal, a high figure for any visiting side to Old Trafford. It was his eighth clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.

HOUSSEM AOUAR (ROMA & ALGERIA)

Roma twice had to come from behind to salvage a 2-2 Serie A draw at Fiorentina on Sunday, with Algerian Aouar getting the side's first equaliser, his third goal of the campaign and first since October. It was his first start since November to be fair and he grabbed his opportunity as he headed in at the near post from a cross. He will hope there is more to come in what is his first season in Italy following a move from Lyon in France at the start of the campaign.

EVAN NDICKA (ROMA & COTE D’IVOIRE)

Roma’s equaliser deep in injury time at the end of the game was created by Ndicka, who doubled his number of assists in Serie A this season. He headed a cross into the path of Diego Llorente, who smashed the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards for an excellent goal. The 24-year-old Ndicka is also in his first season in Serie A, having arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany at the start of the campaign.

UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD & NIGERIA)

Real Sociedad came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 at Granada and the man who set them on their way was Nigeria striker Sadiq. He netted his third of the campaign to go with one assist, with a towering header as he rose highest above the home defence. Sadiq dropped out of the Nigeria squad before the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury, but then continued playing for Sociedad. He would have been a handy player to have in the Ivory Coast with his height and unusual style of play that offers something different.