It was another big weekend for goals from African players in Europe, including a Serie A hattrick anstrike after only 26 seconds!
INAKI WILLIAMS (ATHLETIC BILBAO & GHANA)
Striker Williams is arguably having his best season since he scored 13 LaLiga goals in 38 games in the 2018/19 season, having already netted five in 12 this campaign. His latest goal came against Villarreal this weekend. Hr profited from a defensive error to race through on goal and supply a neat finish into the bottom corner. It is more good news for Ghana’s Black Stars ahead of the World Cup, where Williams could be a key figure for the team. The match also kept up Williams’ incredible record of having featured in every LaLiga match for Athletic since the start of the 2016-17 season. That is a run of 240 successive games!
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA & NIGERIA)
Lookman is another who is having one of the best seasons of his career as he netted a fifth goal in eight starts for Atalanta this campaign, a fourth in his last five games. The goal came against Empoli as he danced his way past four defenders before placing his shot in the bottom corner, displaying all his dazzling feet. Lookman is a player who has perhaps not fulfilled his rich potential since he netted on debut for Everton in a 4-0 win over Manchester City in 2017, but has he finally found a happy home in Italy?
THOMAS PARTEY (ARSENAL & GHANA)
It was ‘Partey time’ at the Emirates on Sunday as the Ghana midfielder helped Arsenal to an emphatic 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest that took them back to the top of the Premier League. Partey was excellent throughout but got his name on the scoresheet with a rasping, curling effort from 25-yards that nestled into the top corner. It was the goal of the game and a stunning strike that showed Partey’s ability from range. That is his second goal in nine Premier League games this season, already matching his tally for the entirety of last season.
THÉO BONGONDA (CADIZ & DR CONGO)
It took Bongonda just 26 seconds to get on the scoresheet as he netted his first of the season in Cadiz’s surprise 3-2 home win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday. It was also his first goal for his new club after making the move from Genk in Belgium at the start of the campaign. The ball was played across the penalty-box and he was in the right place at the right time to slam it home, catching the Atletico defence napping.
M'BALA NZOLA (SPEZIA & ANGOLA)
Another hot striker at the moment is Nzola, who netted a fifth goal in 12 starts for Spezia this season in Seria A. It was a simple finish as Fiorentina failed to clear a cross and the ball fell kindly to him, but the Angolan will claim it is all about being in the right place at the right time. It was the equaliser in the game, but Spezia went on to lose 2-1. Nzola’s best goals tally in Serie A was in his first campaign, in 2020/21 when he netted 11, but he will have that number well within his sights now.
BOULAYE DIA (SALERNITANA & SENEGAL)
It is becoming a common theme, but Dia was the latest striker to score his fifth goal of the campaign when he netted for Salernitana against Lazio to give Senegal coach Aliou Cisse more to think about ahead of the World Cup in Qatar. It was the third goal in an excellent 3-1 away win in the Italian capital as Dia made the points safe. The tall striker will hope to show this kind of form for his national team next month.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI & NIGERIA)
Arguably the top performance of the weekend came from Nigeria striker Osimhen, who just can’t stop scoring at the moment for Napoli. His hattrick at the weekend took his tally to six goals in his last five games as Lazio thumped Sassuolo 4-0 as they extended their lead at the top of the table to five points. His first goal came early as he poked the ball in at the back post, with his second a poacher’s finish in the six-yard box. He completed his first Serie A hattrick when he picked up a stray pass and raced into the box before a neat chip over the goalkeeper.
ANDRE ONANA (INTER & CAMEROON)
Inter Milan are on a run of four straight wins and it is in no small part thanks to the former of Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana. He has played in all four of those games and kept two clean-sheets, including on Saturday as Inter thumped Sampdoria 3-0. It is some good form at just the right time as for as the Indomitable Lions are concerned with the World Cup fast approaching.