African ALL Stars: Kudus, Minteh break scoring ducks

With the international break now upon us there will be no league action for two weeks, but Africa’s stars from across the European continent continued to shine as they warm up for those crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over the next 10 days.

Here is a round-up of the best of the best of the performances. 

MOHAMMED KUDUS (GHANA & WEST HAM)

It has not been an easy start to the season for Ghana winger Kudus, and there had been unverified reports of a fall-out with West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui. But he answered all of that in the best way possible with a first goal of the season to help the Hammers to an emphatic 4-1 home success over promoted Ipswich Town. Kudus gave West Ham the lead just before halftime and while it was not a classic goal, it was an important one to shift the momentum in the game. Michail Antonio’s header came back off the bar and Kudu was on hand to head in the rebound. It is a first goal contribution in seven matches this season for the Black Stars player.  

YANKUBA MINTEH (GAMBIA & BRIGHTON)

Minteh also scored his first goal of the campaign for new club Brighton starting a remarkable comeback from two goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2. Minteh, 20, arrived at the club from Newcastle United having had a successful spell at Dutch side Feyenoord in the last campaign. He is full of pace and power, but showed excellent finesse to get Brighton’s first goal.  He swept in a low shot from 12 yards showing great technique to find the only spot in the goal that was not covered the goalkeeper or a defender. 

BRYAN MBEUMO (CAMEROON & BRENTFORD)

It took Brentford some 75 seconds to take the lead this weekend in their clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, slow by their standards having incredibly scored in the first minute in their three previous fixtures. That goal was not by Mbeumo, but rather Nathan Collins, though the Cameroon international was on the scoresheet when he converted a penalty midway through the first half.  It was a cooly taken spot-kick as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. That is now six goals in seven games for Mbeumo. Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (10) has scored more so far this campaign. Brentford went on to win an extraordinary game 5-3.   

RAYAN AIT-NOURI (ALGERIA & WOLVES)

It has been a disastrous season so far for Wolves, who have a single point from seven matches and have already conceded 21 goals, an average of three per game, to leave them bottom of the table. But the one highlight has been the form of Algerian full-back Ait-Nouri, who showed his class again in that loss to Brentford with a goal and an assist. It was his low cross from the left that was stabbed home by Jørgen Strand Larsen to make the score 2-2 after 26 minutes. Brentford took over after that but Ait-Nouri did come up with an injury-time goal to add to his impressive display as he finished brilliantly with a burst into the box and a low shot through the legs of the goalkeeper. His team may be struggling, but that is now two goals and two assists this season for the 23-year-old.     

SELIM AMALLAH (MOROCCO & VALLADOLID)

It has also been a tough old start to the season for Real Valladolid as they sit second bottom of LaLiga and endured a 2-1 home loss to Rayo Vallecano. But they took the lead in that game through Amallah as he bagged a first of the season to go with a single assist. The Belgian-born Morocco international did not manage a single goal on loan to Valencia last season, so will be happy to have got off the mark. Raúl Moro did brilliantly on the left wing to set up the chance and his cut-back was side-footed in from 10-yards by Amallah. He can only hope better days are ahead. 

JORDAN ZEMURA (ZIMBABWE & UDINESE)

Zemura has been a breath of fresh air at Udinese this season and capped his good early season form with a stunning winner in their 1-0 success over Lecce. He netted on 75 minutes to earn his side the win as they moved into fifth in the table, three points behind leaders Napoli. Zemura took a 25-yard free-kick and curled it over the wall and into the corner of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance. His was a superb display of technique and control from the 24-year-old English-born Zimbabwean.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA & ATALANTA)

Atalanta flexed their muscles as they put Genoa to the sword with a 5-1 victory on Saturday, Mateo Retegui scoring a hattrick against his old side to take his tally for the Serie A season to seven in as many games. His first was created by Lookman, who provided a pinpoint low cross from the left for Retegui to stab home. Lookman now has two goals and two assists in four Serie A appearances this season, proving once again what a valuable member of the side he is.