The English Premier League and Spanish LaLiga are back under way for the 2025/26 season and as ever Africa’s star players will leave their mark on the world’s biggest leagues.
There were several outstanding displays on the opening weekend as players had an immediate impact for their sides.
ANTOINE SEMENYO (GHANA & BOURNEMOUTH)
Next fixture: Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)
Bournemouth’s season opener at Anfield was always going to be a tough ask, but while Semenyo was a star of the show for the visiting Cherries, it would end in a 4-2 defeat and amid a disgraceful racist incident involving the winger.
Semenyo was racially abused by a Liverpool fan in the first half but to his credit kept fighting for his team, and netted two goals to help them rally from 2-0 down.
Liverpool would go on to claim victory with two late goals, but Semenyo showcased why he is such an admired player on and off the pitch. His first goal was a calm finish after a low ball across the box, but his second a scintillating run and finish from his own penalty area. This could be a big, big year for the Ghana international.
MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)
Next fixture: Newcastle (a)
Salah scored the final goal to end the contest as Liverpool defeated Bournemouth on an emotional night at Anfield as they said farewell to Diogo Jota, with the Egyptian master in tears at the end of the game.
Liverpool had a 3-2 lead when Salah popped up in the 9th minute to get his scoring season under way, having won the Golden Boot in the Premier League last campaign. It was a fine individual goal too as he chased what looked a lost cause up front, before winning the ball and using some dancing feet to fire low into the far corner of the net. This will be the first of how many goals this season?
MOHAMMED KUDUS (GHANA & SPURS)
Next fixture: Manchester City (a)
Tottenham Hotspur let a late lead slip in the UEFA Super Cup in midweek as they lost on penalties top Paris St Germain but put Burnley to the sword on the opening day of the Premier League campaign.
Kudus has been a €63.8-million arrival from West Ham, making him among the most expensive transfers for an African player in history. He has started to repay that though with two assists in the 3-0 win over Burnley, both for the Brazilian forward Richarlison.
He showed great persistence to win the ball and cross for his first assist, before laying on a contender for Goal of the Season on the opening weekend. His cross was met with a scissor-kick by Richarlison to make it 2-0. Kudus will be key for Tottenham this season.
ETTA EYONG (CAMEROON & VILLARREAL)
Next fixture: Girona (h)
Eyong scored the first goal of the season for Villarreal as they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win at home to promoted Oviedo. The 21-year-old arrived from Cadiz at the start of last season but spent most of the campaign in the reserve side, where he netted 19 goals in 29 starts.
He will be delighted to have got his season of to a scoring, and winning, start. His goal came via a back-post header from a corner, which left the keeper with no chance. It will certainly have been a big confidence boost.
PAPE GUEYE (SENEGAL & VILLARREAL)
Next fixture: Girona (h)
Gueye was also on target for Villarreal as he netted their second goals. The Frenchman netted four times in 34 appearances last season for the Yellow Submarine, so will be delighted to have got off the mark on the opening day. It was a lovely strike too as he was teed-up by Ivorian Nicolas Pepe on the edge of the box and fired in a shot to the bottom right corner of the net. There would be no more goals in the game but it was comfortable from this point for the home side.
CHRISTANTUS UCHE (NIGERIA & GETAFE)
Next fixture: Sevilla (a)
Getafe eased to an opening day 2-0 win over Celta Vigo in a fine away display that will have given them much confidence for the campaign. Nigerian Uche was a big part of their successful season in the last campaign, and provided a goal and an assist on this opening day of this one.
He held off a defender to win the ball on the righthand side for the first goal, bursting into the box and laying on a perfect pass for Adrián Liso to score. He showed more good strength to bully the defender for Getafe’s second, before rounding the goalkeeper and applying a neat finish.