The season is winding down in Europe, but that also means the jostling for places on the league table is intensifying.
Africa’s stars are playing their part as we look at our top performers from across the leagues this past weekend.
BETO (GUINEA-BISSAU & EVERTON)
Beto made it two goals in as many games as he helped Everton come from behind to claim a 3-1 win at Fulham. There was a good slice of luck about his goal as his first-time shot slipped through the hands of Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno. But the 27-year-old won’t care, he now has eight goals in the Premier League in 13 starts (and 15 sub appearances) and 10 for the season in all competitions. There are big question marks over whether he will be at Everton next season, but he is delivering the goals.
ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (MALI & EVERTON)
One man who looks increasingly unlikely to make the move to Everton’s new stadium with the team in the next campaign is Doucoure, who has not been offered a new deal by the club. The 32-year-old is one of the top earners at the club and said last week he was not willing to take a pay-cut, so he may be playing his football elsewhere. He laid on an assist for Everton’s equaliser with a short pass back to left-back Vitaly Mykolenko, whose deflected shot ended up in the back of the net on the stroke of halftime. It was a second assist of the season to go with three goals in 30 starts (and one sub appearance).
MOHAMMED KUDUS (GHANA & WEST HAM)
West Ham are stuttering to the end of the season, but managed a 2-0 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Kudus had a hand in their first goal as he took a pass in the box, beat Amid Diallo and his powerful cross low was turned into the net by Tomas Soucek. West Ham will do well to keep hold of Kudus next season, he has been one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dismal season. He has three assists and four goals in 30 starts in the Premier League and always looks a constant danger.
ISMAILA SARR (SENEGAL & CRYSTAL PALACE)
Crystal Palace ensured they would not finish lower than 12th this season with a 2-0 win at ailing Tottenham Hotspur. They have been in excellent late-season form and one of the main contributors has been Sarr, with his pace and power. He laid on the second goal for Eberechi Eze as they combined down the right wing before Sarr slid the ball in for his teammate to score. That was a 12th goal contribution of the season for Sarr, having scored seven to go with five assists in 28 starts (and eight sub appearances).
BRYAN MBEUMO (CAMEROON & BRENTFORD)
Brentford kept their hopes of European football very much alive with a 1-0 win at Ipswich Town. They are in eighth place, which could be enough if Manchester City win the FA Cup. Mbeumo provided the assist for the winner as his perfect ball to the near post was turned into the net by Kevin Schade. That takes Mbeumo’s goal contribution this season to 25, with 18 scored himself and seven assists in 36 starts. Surely, much bigger clubs around Europe will be looking at the 25-year-old.
SIMON ADINGRA (IVORY COAST & BRIGHTON)
Brighton also stayed in contention for that eighth spot as they won 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Brajan Gruda scored their second goal, his first for the club, having been set up by Adingra. The latter played the German in on goal and he provided a chip over the keeper to score before falling to the ground in tears, such was his relief. It was a second assist to go with two goals in 10 starts and 17 sub appearances this season for Adingra. He might have hoped for more.
ILAIX MORIBA (GUINEA & CELTA VIGO)
Celta Vigo kept up their European hopes for next season with a 3-2 home win over Sevilla, despite losing Marcos Alonso to a red card at the end of the first half. Moriba scored their first with a beautiful turn and shot on the edge of the box that was also his first goal for the club in 19 starts and 11 sub appearances. It was a long time coming. His only other goal in LaLiga came for Barcelona against Osasuna in 2021.
SEYDOUBA CISSE (GUINEA & LEGANES)
Leganes boosted their survival hopes with a 3-2 win over Espanyol to leave them a point from safety with three rounds to go. Cisse scored their first when Espanyol tried to play their way out of defence, but only succeeded in turning over possession and presenting a chance for Cisse to provide a cool side-footed finish. It was a third goal of the season for the midfielder in 28 starts and three substitute appearances.
YAN DIOMANDE (IVORY COAST & LEGANES)
Diomande scored the second for Leganes with a beautiful solo goal as he collected the ball on the edge of the box, twisted past the defender and poked the ball into the net from close range. That made it 2-0 and was a first-ever senior goal for the 18-year-old Ivorian, who clearly has a big future in the game. He has made four starts and three substitute appearances in his debut season in LaLiga and will hope to help his side preserve their status in the coming weeks.
OMAR MASCARELL (EQUATORIAL GUINEA & MALLORCA)
Mallorca are still in with a shout of finishing in the European places and were helped by a 2-1 home win over long-relegated Real Valladolid. The latter had taken the lead, but Mascarell equalised just before the half-hour mark with a well-taken goal. A deep cross was sent to the back post and he arrived to volley home, showing great technique. It was a first goal in 19 starts and 10 substitute appearances this season for the defensive midfielder.
ETTA EYONG (CAMEROON & VILLARREAL)
Villarreal kept hold of the fifth and final Champions League qualification place with a 1-0 win at Girona that was handed to them by a winner from Eyong with a minute to go. He was left unmarked in the box and headed home a pinpoint cross, much to the delight of the Yellow Submarine’s away support. It is a first-ever LaLiga goal for the 21-year-old, who has scored 17 times for the club’s reserve side. He has been on the pitch for just seven minutes for the senior team this season, though, and has his goal.
KEITA BALDE (SENEGAL & MONZA)
Already relegated Monza came up with a 2-1 win over Udinese, just their third victory in 36 Serie A games this season. Balde scored the winner in the 90th minute, his second of the campaign in six starts and three sub appearances since he joined in January from Sivasspor in Turkey. The ball came to him at the back post and his first touch was superb, which set up the shooting chance and he did not miss from six yards. It was a well-taken goal.
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (NIGERIA & AC MILAN)
AC Milan made it three wins in a row with a 3-1 home success over Bologna as they make a late push for European football next season. Chukwueze set up the third goal late on as he drove inside from the right and played a pass across the box that was perfect for Santiago Giménez to score his second of the game. It was a first assist of the season for the Nigerian to go with three goals in nine starts and 16 sub appearances.
YUSUF MAART (SOUTH AFRICA & KAIZER CHIEFS)
Maart does love a Soweto Derby goal, with his 60-yard effort a few seasons ago one of the best ever seen in the historic fixture. His winner in the Nedbank Cup final in Durban was not quite as spectacular, but a brilliant goal nonetheless, as he volleyed home from the edge of the box with 10 minutes remaining to clinch a first trophy in 10 years for the AmaKhosi. The skipper for the day has had a mixed season, but this will have been arguably the highlight of his career, especially as he is a former Pirates player who was not given a chance with the Buccaneers. It is a third goal of the campaign in 26 starts and six sub appearances in all competitions.