African ALL Stars: Partey time for Arsenal, Salah streak continues

Mohamed Salah continues Liverpool’s fine run this season that has made them English Premier League favourites with two more goals, while Thomas Partey scored a stunner for Arsenal as they seek to keep pace in the title race

Ademola Lookman also can’t stop scoring for high-flying Atalanta in Italy as we round up Africa’s top performers from the weekend.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Liverpool continued what already looks like an unstoppable march to the English premier League title this season with a hard-fought 3-2 win at bottom side Southampton. The victory leaves The Reds eight points ahead of faltering Manchester City in second place, and was handed to them by two goals from the mercurial Salah, who took his tally to 10 goals in 12 Premier League games this campaign. Add to that six assists and it has been some season so far for the 32-year-old. He beat the offside trap to score his first against Southampton, before converting a penalty with seven minutes to go to win the game for Arne Slot side.

THOMAS PARTEY (GHANA & ARSENAL)

Partey looks to have put behind him Ghana’s miserable Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign as he scored a stunning goal to help arsenal beat high-flying Nottingham Forest 4-0. It is a second goal of the season for the midfielder, who probably should score more given his obvious ability. He collected the ball 25-yards out from goal, steadied himself and curled in a superb shot that gave the Forest keeper no chance. When he does score, they tend to be belters.

NICOLAS JACKSON (SENEGAL & CHELSEA)

Jackson took his goals tally this season to seven in the Premier League (with three assists) as he netted in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Leicester City that leaves them in the top three in the table. The Senegalese forward showed great strength to hold off a defender twice as he played a one-two and then provided a calm finish to open the scoring. Jackson has all the attributes to be a top, top striker and at the age of 23 has time on his side.

JORDAN AYEW (GHANA & LEICESTER CITY)

Ayew is another Ghanaian who will want to forget the Afcon qualifier campaign and he continued his fine form for Leicester this season with a late penalty against Chelsea that briefly game them hope of a comeback. It is a third goal in five starts for The Foxes this season following his move from Crystal Palace and he took it well, sending the ball low past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. With Leicester having since sacked manager Steve Cooper, Ayew will have to convince a new boss of his talent when one is appointed.

ISMAILA SARR (SENEGAL & CRYSTAL PALACE)

Sarr had a hand in both of Crystal Palace’s goals as they twice led away at Aston Villa but had to settle for a point in the end. The former Watford and Marseille winger had not scored for Palace before his trip to Villa Park but was a central figure in what is a good away point. He opened the scoring inside four minutes as he showed pace and strength after being sent through on goal to finish cooly and stun the hosts. Moments after Villa missed a penalty to make it 2-1 just before halftime, Sarr launched a counterattack up field and his low cross was turned in by Justin Devenny. But Palace could not hold on as Ross Barkley scored an equaliser for the home side.

ALEX IWOBI (NIGERIA & FULHAM)

Fulham might have been thumped 4-1 at home by strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Iwobi continued his good form with another goal as he gave them the lead. It is a third goal to go with two assists in 12 games this campaign. It was a beauty too as Wolves stood off him on the edge of the box and with time to pick his spot, he curled an excellent shot into the far corner. A second half capitulation saw the visitors storm back to take the win though.

MARIO LEMINA (GABON & WOLVES)

The first of those comeback goals was set up by Lemina, as his long ball from the back was perfect for Matheus Cunha to run onto and score. It was an excellent pass and expert finish to underline the quality Wolves do have in their squad. It was a third assist of the season to go with a single goal for the Gabon international. Given that he had only managed five assists in his 12-year professional career before this season, that is some going!

AMAD DIALLO (IVORY COAST & MANCHESTER UNITED)

Diallo also took his tally of assists this campaign to three as he helped Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town, a low key beginning for new manager Ruben Amorim. United took the lead inside two minutes when the Ivorian provided a barnstorming run down the right-hand side, evading several challenges, before crossing for Marcus Rashford to score. Diallo played the match as a wing-back rather than out-and-out winger, and was lively throughout, though United could not get the Amorim era off to a winning start.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA & ATALANTA)

Atalanta claimed a sixth successive win in all competitions, and ninth in 10 games (D1), as they won 3-1 at Parma, with Lookman getting their third goal. The result leaves Atalanta just a point behind leaders Napoli. A big part of that winning run has been the goals of Lookman as he scored a sixth in as many games. It was a well-taken goal as well as he finished from the back post on the volley to make sure of the points for his side. Add in four assists and that is now 11 goal contributions in nine Serie A starts.

FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (NIGERIA & LAZIO)

Lazio are also on a thrilling run with 11 wins in 12 games (L1) in all competitions and they eased to another success with a 3-0 win over Bologna. Substitute Dele-Bashiru got their third goal in injury-time at the end of the game, his first of the campaign following his move from Turkish side Hatayspor. He does also have two assists. Lazio led a quick breakaway and as the ball fell to Dele-Bashiru 10-yards from goal, he rifled it into the back of the net.

ADAM MASINA (MOROCCO & TORINO)

Masina scored a first goal of the season to help mid-table Torino to a point at home to Monza. He doesn’t score many – 10 in 12 seasons as a professional – so this will be a goal to savour. The Morocco international leapt highest in the box to head them into the lead just before the hour-mark, bit minutes later strugglers Monza were level as they also scored with a header from a corner.

ALLAN NYOM (CAMEROON & GETAFE)

Getafe secured a vital 2-0 win over bottom side Real Valladolid as they netted twice inside three second half minutes, and Cameroon star Nyom had a hand in both. First he set up Álvaro Rodríguez for the opener, before he finished with a powerful shot from eight yards as the ball bobbled about in the box. Remarkably, they were Getafe’s first two goals scored from open play this season! Nyom has made just three starts this campaign, perhaps he should be playing more …

CEDRIC BAKAMBU (DR CONGO & REAL BETIS)

Bakambu is another player who has been used sparingly this campaign, but he came up with as assist for Real Betis as they lost 4-2 at Valencia. It was a bit scrappy as he tussled for the ball on the edge of the box and it fell for Argentine Luis Ávila to pull a goal back with the score at 4-1. Too little, too late.

DELANO ABRAHAMS (SOUTH AFRICA & MAGESI)

Magesi FC caused one of the great cup final shocks in South African football history when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the decider for the Carling Knockout on Saturday. With the game seemingly heading for extra-time, Abrahams netted with a superb take from a corner, side-footing into the back of the net for his second goal of the campaign. He likes the big occasion, his other goal came in a stunning 3-2 win at Orlando Pirates in the Last 16 of the competition. It is also not the first time he has scored against Sundowns, he did so for second-tier University of Pretoria in the Nedbank Cup last campaign. What he is still searching for is a first goal in the Betway Premiership.