African players round-up: Victor Osimhen hits purple patch
Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen was the outstanding African performer in Europe over the weekend after scoring a hat-trick for Serie A leaders Napoli when they beat Sassuolo on Saturday.
The 23-year-old has now scored seven goals for Napoli this term.
As it stands, he leads the goal charts together with Marko Arnautovic of Bologna, who also has seven goals. Ciro Immobile of Lazio and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez follow with six goals apiece.
FARPost rounds up how Africans based in Europe’s top leagues performed over the weekend.
Victor Osimhen [Napoli]
Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen was the hero on Saturday after scoring a hat-trick when Napoli thrashed Sassuolo.
Napoli remain unbeaten in the Serie A this season, and in this one, the 23-year-old gunslinger Osimhen was their lethal weapon.
He opened the scores after four minutes from a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia assist, with his second goal coming 15 minutes later from another Kvaratskhelia pass.
Kvaratskhelia netted the third goal in the 36th minute, and Osimhen completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute to seal the emphatic win.
The lanky Nigerian was on cloud nine following the convincing display.
“Congratulations to the team; I am happy to contribute to this win. Of course, it is good to have as many goals as this; I want to keep the momentum going,” Osimhen said after the win.
Mohamed Salah [Liverpool]
Egyptian talisman Mohamed Salah was on target for Liverpool, albeit on a losing note to minnows Leeds United.
The Reds’ woes continue to mount as they lost yet another match in their fortress, Anfield stadium.
Leeds’ Rodrigo scored first, and Salah restored parity for the Reds at the break. It was Crysencio Summerville who broke Liverpool’s hearts with a last-minute winner which secured the points.
Liverpool, therefore, remain stuck in ninth place in the Premier League with 13 points behind the leaders and champions Manchester City.
Sadio Mane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting [Bayern Munich]
Senegalese star Sadio Mane and Cameroon skipper Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting produced sterling performances on Saturday as Bayern Munich beat Mainz 6-2.
Both players scored one and assisted one, with Mane delivering a delightful cross which was converted by Serge Gnabry’s for the opening goal.
Jamal Musiala doubled the scores after 28 minutes from a Choupo-Moting assist.
Mane made it three in the 43rd minute, with Choupo-Moting scoring their last goal of the match.
The other goals were scored by Mathys Tell and Leon Gotezka, with Silvan Widmer and Marcus Ingvartsen scoring Mainz’s two goals.
Serhou Guirassy [Stuggart]
Guinea international Serhou Guirassy, along with Waldemar Anton, were on target as Stuttgart came from behind to edge Augsburg 2-1.
Augsburg’s forward Niederlechner opened the scores after five minutes, and Stuttgart responded when Borna Sosa’s cross was headed home with ease by Serhou Guirassy.
And Anton ensured the win when he rifled the ball home in injury time, and Stuttgart collected the priceless points.
Lebo Mothiba [Strasbourg] and Bamba Dieng, Issa Kabore [Olympique Marseille]
Unstoppable South African forward Lebo Mothiba was the toast of the day for Strasbourg when they came back behind to force a draw against Olympique Marseille.
Mothiba was introduced as a second-half substitute, and he proved his mettle to score as Strasbourg were two goals down.
Marseille surged courtesy of first-half goals from Senegalese Bamba Dieng and Burkinabe Issa Kabore.
But the 26-year-old reduced their deficit moments after introduction before Kelvin Gameiro scored the equalising goal in injury time to ensure the share of the spoils.
Thomas Partey [Arsenal]
Ghana vice-captain Partey scored his first goal this season when Arsenal drubbed Nottingham Forest 5-0 to record their tenth win in 12 games.
Gabriel Martinelli set the Gunners on their way after five minutes when he nodded the ball home from a delightful cross-whipped Bukayo Saka.
Substitute Reiss Nelson piled more misery on Forest when he notched two goals in three minutes after half-time to set the Gunners in full control of proceedings.
Then came, Partey’s moment to make it 4-0 with a trademark sizzling shot from outside the box, his first for Arsenal in this campaign. Martin Odegaard finished off the job with a beautiful finish towards full-time.
Inaki Williams [Athletic Bilbao]
Ghana forward Inaki Williams made the difference on Sunday with a sublime goal that ensured victory against Villarreal.
Williams scored the priceless goal on the hour mark to get the better of Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze and the Yellow Submarines.
Ademola Lookman [Atalanta]
Former Leicester City striker Ademola Lookman scored a delightful second-half solo goal as Atalanta beat Empoli on Sunday.
The Nigerian doubled the scores after Hans Hateboer’s opener, and that was enough to help them bounce back to winning ways after losing last weekend.
As it stands, they moved to second position, five points adrift of current Serie A leaders Napoli.
Mama Samba Balde [ Troyes]
Guinea-Bissau international Mama Balde scored a brace in Troyes’ defeat at the hands of PSG.
Balde opened the scores after three minutes with a volley over PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Carlos Soler levelled matters for the serial French champions, but their relief was short-lived as Balde struck again with a low shot from inside the box.
Lionel Messi restored parity before they took the lead courtesy of a Neymar goal, and Mbappe sealed the win in the 76th minute from a penalty.
Ante Palaversa reduced Troyes’ deficit, but PSG held on to the one-goal advantage until the final whistle.
Dango Quattara [Lorient]
Another Burkina Faso star Dango Quattara was on target, albeit on a losing note for Lorient as they suffered a narrow 2-1 loss at the hands of Nice.
Youcef Atal was the main man for Nice after leading a massive comeback, with a deflected effort from Gaëtan Laborde proving enough for them to collect maximum points.