Iliman Ndiaye scored a historic goal for Everton in the Premier League and Nicolas Pepe had a hand in Villarreal thumping of Girona as Africa’s top stars again excelled in Europe this weekend.
Here is a round-up of the best performers.
ILIMAN NDIAYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)
Next fixture: Wolverhampton Wanderers (away)
Ndiaye wrote another piece of history for himself at Everton when he became the first goalscorer in a competitive fixture at the club’s magnificent new Hill Dickenson Stadium on the banks of the River Mersey. It comes just months after the Senegal international as the last scorer at Goodison Park, which had been the club’s home for 133 years.
There has been plenty of interest in Ndiaye from Champions League clubs, but Everton have made it clear he is going nowhere and is a vital part of their side. He turned in Jack Grealish’s cross at the back post to score Everton’s opener in their 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, having played on the right wing to accommodate Grealish in the side.
Iliman Ndiaye now has two historic @Everton goals to his name 📜 pic.twitter.com/jUbNQVUkpf
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 24, 2025
ANTOINE SEMENYO (GHANA & BOURNEMOUTH)
Next fixture: Tottenham Hotspur (away)
Bournemouth picked up a first win of the season as they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0, with Semenyo following his two-goal show with an assist for their winner.
It came inside the first four minutes as Semenyo played in Marcus Tavernier, whose goal-bound shot took a big deflection and ended up in the back of the net. That is three goal contributions in two games for Ghana’s Semenyo, who is among the best wide players in the Premier League and at the age of 25 has plenty more growth in him.
ISMAILA SARR (SENEGAL & CRYSTAL PALACE)
Next fixture: Aston Villa (away)
Crystal Palace have had to deal with the loss of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in this transfer window, which will mean the likes of Ismaila Sarr will need to step up and fill that breach. Sarr scored the opener in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, which was also palace’s first goal of the league season.
It was a well-worked goal as the lively Daniel Muñoz was picked out on the right-hand side and his ball into the box was turned in by the Senegal winger. Sarr got eight goals and six assists in the Premier League last season, and will want to top that to show his progress, especially in the absence of Eze.
NICOLAS PEPE (COTE D’IVOIRE & VILLARREAL)
Next fixture: Celta Vigo (away)
Villarreal kept up their impressive start to the season with a 5-0 win over Girona that sees them top the LaLiga table on goal-difference. Pepe was again influential as he scored the opener inside seven minutes to set the Yellow Submarine on their way.
Pepe pounced on a defensive error to win possession 40 yards from goal and ran into the box before providing a neat low finish. It follows his assist last weekend for a second goal contribution in as many games, having had nine (three goals, six assists) in the entirety of the last campaign.
ANDRE-FRANK ZAMBO ANGUISSA (CAMEROON & NAPOLI)
Next fixture: Cagliari (home)
Napoli began the defence of their Italian Serie A title with a 2-0 away win at Sassuolo and while Anguissa did not score or assist, he helped control the midfield and gave Napoli the upper hand in the centre of the park.
He was playing alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay in a new-look midfield and it was those two who were on target for the Naples club. Napoli enjoyed 62 per cent of the possession and Anguissa was a big part of that and will be a huge part of their team again this term.