It was another successful weekend for a number of Africa’s star players in the elite leagues of Europe, not least one whose goal kept his side in the English Premier League.
We round up the top performers from the last few days.
ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (EVERTON & MALI)
Mali international Doucoure scored arguably the most important goal of his life on Sunday and it was a superb strike to boot. With Everton heading for the Championship unless they could beat Bournemouth, the midfielder produced a superb volley from just outside the box that arrowed into the net in the 1-0 win. It preserves Everton’s 69-year stay in the topflight of English football and also continues their world record of 120 years as an elite league club. It was a fifth goal in 10 games for Doucoure, who has been excellent as a box-to-box midfielder since the arrival of Sean Dyche as manager. He also recently signed a new one-year contract extension to remain at Goodison Park next season.
KAMALDEEN SULEMANA (SOUTHAMPTON & GHANA)
Sulemana scored his first two goals for Southampton since his January arrival at the club as they played to a remarkable 4-4 draw with Liverpool. Unfortunately the Saints were relegated some weeks ago, but it was still a fine individual performance from the Ghana star, who now faces an uncertain future if he doesn’t fancy Championship football. Sulemana netted his first with a neat finish on the run and then got another with a brilliant run from his own half and an expert finish to make it 3-2 to the home side. He looks too good for second-tier football, so it will be an interesting few months ahead.
TAIWO AWONIYI NOTTINGHAM FOREST & NIGERIA)
Another week, another goal for the free-scoring Nigerian forward. He took his tally to 10 for the season and a sixth in the final four games of the campaign as he became the central figure in Nottingham Forest preserving their topflight status. He was played in on goal by a brilliant pass from Morgan Gibbs-White, but then still had much work to do to beat the defender and goalkeeper. He will hope his late season form translates into a 20-goal season in 2023/24.
MARVELOUS NAKAMBA (LUTON TOWN & ZIMBABWE)
Luton Town completed their climb from the fifth tier of English football to the Premier League in the last decade when they defeated Coventry City on penalties in the playoff final on Saturday, another of the great stories of English football. Central to their success this season has been Zimbabwe international midfielder Makamba, who is on loan at the club from Aston Villa. He put in a strong display in the game and then held his nerve to bury a penalty in the shoot-out, a pressure situation if ever there was one. Will eb be at Villa Park next season, or will Luton try to make the loan a permanent move?
VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI & NIGERIA)
Osimhen scored two goals for champions Napoli in their 2-2 draw at Bologna has he tries to hold off a late charge from Inter Milan’s Lautaro MartÃnez for the Serie A Golden Boot. Osimhen now has 25 for the season, four ahead of Martinez, and should be out of sight with one game to play. It is comfortably his best league season, his previous highest number of goals being 14 last term, and he has reached 30 for the campaign in all competitions. His first goal was an absolute gift as Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski passed straight to him and he only had to put the ball into an empty net. His second was a superb turn in the box and low drive into the far corner. It has been a remarkable campaign for Osimhen, who has emerged as one of the European game’s top forwards.
WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG (SALERNITANA & NIGERIA)
Nigeria international Troost-Ekong capped a remarkable comeback for Salernitana as they came from two goals down to beat Udinese 3-2 with his 96th minute strike. The defender netted his first goal of the Serie A campaign following his January loan move from English second-tier side Watford when he got on the end of a deep cross and met the ball first time with his right foot, arrowing it into the top corner. It sparked wild scenes of celebration from both the player and the home fans.