AFRICAN ALL STARS: Minteh downs Man Utd, Dia stars for Lazio

It was another weekend of sparkling performances from Africa’s elite players across Europe’s top leagues, with stunning goals and brilliant assists. We pick out the top performers for their clubs.

YANKUBA MINTEH (GAMBIA & BRIGHTON)

Minteh had a slow start to the season due to injuries, but has really come into his own in recent months and was the architect for Brighton and Hove Albion’s fantastic 3-1 victory at Manchester United on Sunday. He scored the opener with a tap-in after being superbly set-up by Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma. It was roles reversed for the second Brighton goal as Minteh’s delightful ball to the back post was turned in by Mitoma. That is now three goals and two assists for Minteh in seven Premier League starts this season. He also has 10 sub appearances.

ILIMAN NDIAYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)

Everton looked a rejuvenated team as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday to ease their relegation worries. New manager David Moyes has them playing more on the front-foot, and that is led by the excellence of winger Ndiaye. He scored a fantastic second goal in the game, picking up the ball at the halfway line, driving towards goal, wrong-footing Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin and blasting the ball into the back of the net. It was one of the best individual goal of the season so far. If the Toffees are to start climbing the table under Moyes, Ndiaye will play a big part. He now has four league goals this campaign, and six in all competitions.

IDRISSA GUEYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)

Gueye was outstanding for Everton in their win over Spurs, noticeably playing a little higher up the pitch than his usual defensive midfield position. He did not have an assist before Sunday’s clash, but bagged two as he first slipped the ball into the box for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to get Everton’s opener, and then played the pass that set Ndiaye free for his solo effort. Now aged 35, Gueye is reaching veteran status, but remains a key cog for Everton as they look to a new dawn under Moyes and at their new stadium next season.

PAUL ONUACHU (NIGERIA & SOUTHAMPTON)

It has been a desperately poor season for Southampton, who have managed only six points from a possible 66 in the Premier League so far and are already 10 points from safety. It would be arguably the greatest escape in Premier League history were they to survive this season. They slumped to a 3-2 loss at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, though did rally in the second half having been 3-0 down at the break. Big forward Onuachu bagged his first Premier League goal of the season (four starts, eight sub appearances) with a thumping header late on, though it was not enough in the end.

OLA AINA (NIGERIA & NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

Onuacho’s compatriot Aina has been having the best season of his career in the right-back position and is a major contributor to Nottingham Forest being third in the table with the third best defensive record. But he has also been a good weapon going forward and it was his pin-point cross that was headed home by Chris Wood to give Forest their third goal. Aina now has two goals and an assist from the full-back position this season.

ANTOINE SEMENYO (GHANA & BOURNEMOUTH)

Bournemouth continue to sizzle this season and claimed a statement 4-1 victory at in-form Newcastle United on Saturday to move into seventh in the table and in contention for Uefa competition places next season. Semenyo has been simply superb and took his tally to six goals and three assists this season when he laid on The Cherries’ opener for hat-trick hero Justin Kluivert. His cut-back from the left wing was perfect for the Dutch forward in a great team goal. Semenyo, 25, netted eight goals last season, the best of his career, and will be confident of topping that number this campaign.

DANGO OUATTARA (BURKINA FASO & BOURNEMOUTH)

Ouattara is another who has shone in this attacking Bournemouth side, no matter if he plays as a left-back, left wing or central striker. He was provider for Kluivert’s second goal as he took a pass from Ryan Christie and laid the ball perfectly into the path of his fellow striker. That is now four assists to go with three goals for the 22-year-old this campaign. That is already his best return in a Cherries jersey.

BRAHIM DIAZ (MOROCCO & REAL MADRID)

It had been a rough week for Real Madrid following their 5-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cuy final and the fact they were booed by their own fans in the 5-2 extra-time win over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey. But they bounced back with a 4-1 thumping of Las Palmas in LaLiga to move to the summit of the table, two points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid and seven points better off than Barcelona. They did fall behind within a minute, but after Kylian Mbappe equalised, Diaz put them in front just past the half-hour mark. It was a simple finish from close-range after a ball across the box from captain Lucas Vázquez. Diaz now has three goals and two assists in LaLiga this season.

INAKI WILLIAMS (GHANA & ATHLETIC BILBAO)

Athletic Bilbao are flying high in LaLiga this campaign and are in fourth place, seven points behind leaders Real Madrid. Their latest win came with a 2-1 success at Celta Vigo, and Williams laid on the first goal for Álex Berenguer just past the four-mark. His low ball from the right wing was drilled into the six-yard box and Álex Berenguer stabbed the ball into the back of the net from close range. It was a sixth assist of the season to go with four goals for Williams, who now has 10 goal contributions. He had 12 goals and three assists last season, so has been more of a creator this campaign.

OMAR EL HILALI (MOROCCO & ESPANYOL)

This season has been a battle for Espanyol, but they can see some light after a 2-1 home win over Real Valladolid on Friday. They remain in the bottom three, but are just a single point from safety. Their winner was scored by Roberto Fernández, with the assist coming from right-back El Hilali, who provided a superb cross from the wing that was inviting for the forward to head home. It was a first assist for the 21-year-old, who has started 19 of Espanyol’s 20 games this season.

BOULAYE DIA (SENEGAL & LAZIO)

Fourth-placed Lazio completed a routine 3-0 away victory over relegation threatened Verona on Sunday and Dia had a hand in two of their goals, scoring one himself. Lazio were already a goal to the good when Dia took a pass just inside the Verona half and sprinted towards the box. He had few options on, so decided to go it alone and placed his shot into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area. He turned provider when he unselfishly chose to pass when one-on-one with the goalkeeper and teammate Mattia Zaccagni scored. Dia, 28, now has nine goal contributions in 13 starts in Serie A, including six goals and three assists.

ANDRE-FRANK ZAMBO ANGUISSA (CAMEROON & NAPOLI)

Serie a leaders Napoli claimed a potentially huge win in their season when they edged hosts Atalanta 3-2 on Saturday. That keeps them three points ahead of Inter Milan in second, though the latter have a game in hand. Anguissa played his part with two assists for Napoli’s second and third goals. The first was a lovely cut-back into the path of midfielder Scott McTominay, before his cross was perfect for Romelu Lukaku to score. That is three assists and four goals for Anguissa this season.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA & ATALANTA)

Reigning Caf African Footballer of the Year Lookman added to his goals tally with another strike against Napoli, though it was not enough for his side to win the game. He made it 2-2 with a low shot from the edge of the box that crept into the far corner, his 10th goal of the Serie A season to go with five assists. He also scored twice against Napoli in November as Atalanta won that encounter 3-0. In fact, he has scored against them in each of this three seasons in Serie A.