AFRICAN STARS: Salah sparkles, Lookman punishes Verona

It was another superb weekend for Africa’s top stars, with crucial goals and assists in some of the biggest leagues in the world.

Here is a round-up of the top performers.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Who else but Mo Salah? He netted against Arsenal for the eighth season in a row to help Liverpool rescue what could be a vital point at The Emirates as they twice came from behind to draw 2-2. Trent alexander-Arnold sent Darwin Nunez free down the right and his ball inside was expertly finished by Salah. That is now six goals and five assists in nine games in the Premier League this season for the Egyptian.

BRYAN MBEUMO (CAMEROON & BRENTFORD)

Mbeumo took his tally for the campaign to eight goals with two more against Ipswich Town, including a 96th minute winner in an epic 4-3 victory on Saturday.

Brentford were two goals down, but Mbeumo’s first, from the penalty-spot, made it 3-2 to the home side before Ipswich levelled again. Whether he meant his winner is unclear, his cross into the box evaded everyone and went into the net.

YOANE WISSA (DR CONGO & BRENTFORD)

DR Congo forward Wissa was also on target for Brentford as he started their comeback from 2-0 down. He was teed up for a simple finish by Vitaly Janelt, but it all about being in the right place at the right time. That is now four goals and an assists for the Congolese star in this Premier League season as he and Mbeumo make for an excellent African double-act.

ALEX IWOBI (NIGERIA & FULHAM)

Iwobi came back to haunt his old club as he netted just past the hour-mark, though Fulham could not hold on for the victory against Everton at Goodison park and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

The Everton defence allowed Iwobi, who spent four seasons on Merseyside, to run at their box and when he saw a gap, he expertly placed the ball past Jordan Pickford from the edge of the box. The 28-year-old has emerged as an important player for Fulham and now has two goals and an assist this campaign.

NICOLAS JACKSON (SENEGAL & CHELSEA)

Jackson continued his fine scoring form this season with a sixth goal to go with three assists for nine goal contributions in as many games. He netted Chelsea’s opener in their 2-1 home win over Newcastle United, this time expertly set up by Pedro Neto, who had himself been released by Cole Palmer. At just 23 years of age, Jackson is developing into a fine striker in one of the top leagues in the world.

RAYAN AIT-NOURI (ALGERIA & WOLVES)

Wolverhampton Wanderers are still without a win this season but did at least manage to rally back from 2-0 down to earn a point at Brighton & Hove Albion. Ait-Nouri started the comeback as later as the 88th minute as he finished a scramble in the box to score his third goal already this campaign, a superb return for a left-back. He also has two goal contributions as well.

TARIQ LAMPTEY (GHANA & BRIGHTON)

Before Wolves’ comeback, Brighton had made it 2-0 in the 8th minute and seemingly won the game. Their goal was scored by Evan Ferguson, but he was set up by Ghana star Lamptey. Ferguson collected his pass and drifted inside before unleashing an unstoppable shot. Lamptey came off the bench for his first appearance of the season in the final 10 minutes and made an immediate impact.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA & ATALANTA)

Lookman continues to get better and better and put in a superb performance with two goals and two assists in Atalanta’s 6-1 victory over Verona. After he had set up Marten de Roon early on, Lookman scored twice in five minutes to help Atalanta go 5-0 up just past the half-hour mark.

His first was a sublime piece of deception as he dummied to shoot at the far post but instead drilled it in at the near. His second was a tap-in from a move he started. That is now four goals and four assists in five Serie A starts this season.

REDA BELAHYANE (MOROCCO & HELLAS VERONA)

A tough outing for Verona, but their goal by Amin Sarr was set up by the Moroccan Belahyane. It is his second assist of the season having made eight starts and a single substitute appearance. He is in his second season at the club and is at least getting more gametime having barely played at all in 2023/24 following his arrival from Nice.

GABRIEL CHARPENTIER (CONGO & PARMA)

Parma have found the going tough with a single win in nine games this campaign but managed a third draw in succession versus Empoli. Their goal came from Congolese forward Charpentier as he equalised with 10 minutes remaining having come off the bench at halftime. There would be some disappointment though as Ange-Yoan Bonny later missed a penalty.

HASSANE KAMARA (IVORY COAST & UDINESE)

Udinese continues their strong start to the season with a 2-0 win over Cagliari that keeps them in the top seven. They were set on their way after Kamara teed-up Lorenzo Lucca for the opener, and never looked like losing from there. Kamara has been an important part of their season in what is his second campaign with the club after arriving from English Championship side Watford. It was his second assist.

EVAN NDICKA (IVORY COAST & ROMA)

It was an day to forget for Roma as they crashed 5-1 at Fiorentina in a shock big loss for the side from the Italian capital. Their lone goal was scored by Kouadio Koné and teed-up by Ndicka to make the score 2-1, but their host ran riot after that. It was the defender’s first assist of the campaign.

MAMADOU SYLLA (SENEGAL & VALLADOLID)

Sylla’s Real Valladolid lost 2-1 to Villarreal, but he did at least mark his afternoon with a goal. It came from the penalty-spot as he equalised for the home side on 60 minutes, but they could not hold on and a late Ayoze Pérez goal won it for Villarreal. It was a second goal of the season to go with one assist for the Senegalese forward.

MOHAU NKOTA (SOUTH AFRICA & ORLANDO PIRATES)

Teenager Nkota has burst onto the scene this season and showed his huge potential with two goals in Orlando Pirates’ 2-1 win over AmaZulu that leaves three points ahead in the Betway Premiership title race. His first was a stunner, curling the ball into the top corner from 30-yards to give goalkeeper Richard Ofori no chance.

His second was a more simple finish after a great move, with fellow 19-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng setting him up on both occasions. It says much about their ability that coach Jose Riveiro has so much faith in them to start. Mofokeng is already a national team player, Nkota can’t be far behind on this evidence.