Boniface and Osimhen, the two Nigerian strikers and several of their compatriots, as well as Jackson from Senegal and Marmoush and Mohamed from Egypt, were the talk of the last weekend of August.
Nicolas Jackson among the weekend’s African goalscorers
In Germany (Matchday 2), Bayer Leverkusen (6pts) can already congratulate themselves on signing Victor Boniface. The Nigerian scored twice in a 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Egypt’s Omar Marmoush gave 7th-placed Eintracht Frankfurt a 1-1 stoppage-time draw against Mainz. VfB Stuttgart (9th) lost heavily to RB Leipzig (1-5), despite the opening goal scored by Guinean Serhou Guirassy.
In England (Matchday 3), Senegalese Nicolas Jackson opened his account with Chelsea (10th) against Luton (3-0). Nottingham Forest (14th), who led Manchester United 2-0 thanks to Nigerian Taïwo Awoniyi and Ivorian Willy Boly, finally lost (2-3) at Old Trafford.
#PL 🏴 : Nicolas Jackson parachève le très probable succès des Blues face à Luton ! Compteur débloqué pour le Sénégalais en Premier League 💪 pic.twitter.com/YtH3RgnTd3
— CANAL+ SPORT Afrique (@cplussportafr) August 25, 2023
In France (Matchday 3), Nantes (16th) were held to a 3-3 draw at home by Monaco after leading 3-1 thanks to a brace from Egyptian Mostefa Mohamed and a goal from Cameroonian Jean-Charles Castelletto. Reims (3rd) won clearly at Montpellier (3-1) with a goal from Moroccan Yunis Abdelhamid. Lens (15th) lost to Paris-SG (1-3), Guinean Morgan Guilavogui reducing the deficit for the Sang et Or.
In Italy (2nd), Napoli (2nd) defeated Sassuolo (2-0), thanks in particular to a penalty from Nigerian Victor Osimhen.
Successful North Africans in Switzerland and Portugal
In Belgium (Matchday 5), fourth-placed Eupen beat Ould-Heverlee 3-1, with a goal from Ghanaian Isaac Nuhu. Cercle Bruges (6th) won at Saint-Trond (2-0) with a goal from Togolese Kevin Denkey. Algerian Mouhamed Belkheir scored one of two goals for Fortuna Sittard (8th) at Excelsior Rotterdam (2-2), on Matchday 3 of the Dutch championship.
In Portugal (matchday 3), Farense crushed Chaves (5-0), with a goal from Algerian Mohamed Belloumi. Guinea’s Morlaye Sylla earned Arouca (6th) a 1-1 draw against Portimonense.
In Switzerland (matchday 5), FC Zurich (1st) drew at home with FC St. Gallen (1-1), despite a goal from Congolese (DRC) Jonathan Okita. Yverdon (7th) clearly beat Servette Genève (4-1) with a goal from Algerian Aymen Mahious. Tunisian Sayfallah Ltaïef scored twice in FC Winterthur’s 5-2 win in Lausanne.
On Matchday 3 of the Turkish championship, Kayserispor (7th) beat Samsunsor (18th) 2-1 thanks to Nigerian Anthony Uzodimma and Senegalese Mame Baba Thiam, while Chadian Marius Mouldilmandji scored for the visitors.
In Austria (matchday 5), RB Salzburg (1st) beat Wolfsberger (2-1) with a goal from Malian Sekou Koita, while Ivorian Mohamed Bamba scored for the hosts.
In Armenia (matchday 5), Nigeria’s Tera Alwyn scored the second goal for Ararat-Armenia (3rd) against Van (3-0).In Azerbaijan (matchday 4), Sabail (6th) won (3-1) at Turan with a goal from Malagasy Alexandre Ramalingom.
On Matchday 18 of the Belarusian league, Dynamo Brest (10th) beat Slutsk 2-1, with another goal from Kenyan Josephat Lopaga.
Traoré on fire in Hungary
In Cyprus (Matchday 2), Karmiotissa (9th) drew with Omonia Nicosia (3-3), with a goal from Moroccan Karim Loukouli.In a spectacular match, AEL Limassol (2nd) overcame Zakakiou (4-3) with a goal from Nigeria’s Ezekiel Henty.
In Finland (Matchday 21), Haka (8th) were held to a draw by KuPS (2-2), despite a goal from Senegalese Elhadji Maissa Fall.
African goalscorers shone in Hungary (Matchday 5). DVTK (1st) relied on Nigerian Bright Edomwonyi, who scored a goal, to beat Kisvarda (2-0). Ferencvaros (7th) crushed Paks (6-1) with a brace from Malian Adama Traoré and a goal from Moroccan Samy Mmaee.Ujpest (6th) got the better of Zalaegerszeg (2-1) with a goal from Nigerian Peter Ambrose.
In Israel (Matchday 1), Hapoel Tel Aviv drew with Sakhnin (1-1) thanks to Congolese Mavis Tchibota.
In Kazakhstan (Matchday 20), a goal from Cameroon’s Macky Bagnack gave fifth-placed Kairat Almaty a 1-0 win over FC Astana.
On matchday 27 of the Latvian championship, RFS (2nd) crushed Metta/LU (5-0), with Ivorians Ismaël Diomandé and Cédric Kouadio scoring a goal apiece.
Auda (4th) dominated BFC (2-0) with a goal from Nigeria’s Abiodun Ogunniyi.His compatriot Mathias Oyewusi scored twice as Zalgiris Vilnius (2nd) beat Dziugas 4-1 on Matchday 28 of the Lithuanian league.
In Luxembourg (matchday 4), UNA Strassen (6th) beat Mondorf-les-Bains (4-2) with a brace from Cameroonian Conrad Azong.
Ivorian Bille decisive in Slovakia
In the Czech Republic (Matchday 6), a brace from Nigeria’s Abdullahi Tanko helped sixth-placed Ostrava beat Ceske 2-0. His compatriot Philipp Otele achieved the same feat in Romania (Matchday 7), as CFR Cluj (3rd) beat Botosani (3-1).
In Russia (Matchday 13), Kazan (13th) were held by Dynamo Moscow (2-2) despite a goal from Ghanaian Joel Fameyeh.
In Serbia (matchday 5), Red Star Belgrade (2nd) suffered their first defeat against FK Vozdovac (2-3), despite a goal from Zambian Kings Kangwa. Despite a brace from Ivorian Yakuba Silue, Mladost (6th) were held to a draw by Vojvodina (2-2).
In Slovakia (Matchday 5), Podbrezova (2nd) and Trencin (3rd) drew 2-2. Nigeria’s Ridwan Sanusi equalised for the hosts in the dying minutes, while Ghanaian Rahim Ibrahim had given Trencin the lead.
Ivorian Eric Bille helped Zilina (1st) beat Zlate Moravce (3-2).In Ukraine (Matchday 5), Congolese Béni Makouana scored his first goal of the season as Zhytomyr (3rd) won 3-0 at Oleksandriya.
