The second weekend of August saw the kick-off of some of Europe’s Top 5 leagues (England, Spain, France) as Africans made their mark.
The English Premier League kicked off last weekend. Brentford, thanks to goals from Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo (penalty) and Congolese (DRC) Yoane Wissa, held off Tottenham (2-2). Ivorian Simon Adingra scored his first goal for Brighton, who beat Luton 4-1. Nottingham Forest lost (1-2) at Arsenal despite a goal from Nigerian Taïwo Awonyi.
In Spain (Matchday 1), Valencia, thanks in particular to Guinean Mouctar Diakhaby, won 2-1 at Sevilla, with Moroccan Youssef El-Nesyri scoring the only goal.
On Matchday 1 of the French championship, Montpellier were held to a 2-2 draw by Le Havre, despite a brace from their Nigerian recruit Akor Adams. Rennes crushed Metz (5-1) with a brace from Moroccan Ibrahim Salah. Strasbourg dominated Lyon (2-1). South African Lebo Mothiba scored Alsace’s second. Toulouse won 2-1 at Nantes, with a goal from Moroccan Zakaria Aboukhal, after Egyptian Mostafa Mohamed had opened the scoring for the Canaries from the penalty spot.
In Switzerland, Séné and Baldé topple Basel
In Belgium (Matchday 3), Senegal’s Moussa Ndiaye helped Anderlecht (7th) beat Saint-Trond away from home (1-0). The Malagasy Marco Ilaimaharitra saved Charleroi from defeat at home to Standard Liège (1-1) by converting an injury-time penalty.
In the Netherlands (Matchday 1), Ghanaian Mohammed Kudus played a part in Ajax Amsterdam’s 4-1 win over Heracles Almelo.
In Switzerland (matchday 4), FC Zurich (1st) comfortably beat Lausanne-Ouchy (3-0), with Congolese (DRC) Jonathan Okita opening the scoring for the leaders. Despite a goal from Ivorian Chris Bédia, Servette Genève (5th) were held 1-1 by FC St. Gallen. Senegal’s Mamadou Kaly Séné and Aliou Baldé, Lausanne Sports (7th) beat FC Basel away (2-1).
The Turkish championship also had its 1st day. Despite a goal from Cameroonian Clinton Njie, Sivasspor were held 1-1 by Samsunspor. Adana Demirspor, on the other hand, beat Rizespor (2-1). Moroccan Younès Belhanda opened the scoring for his team.
In Austria (matchday 3), Ghanaian Forson Amankwah and Ivorian Karim Konaté gave Red Bull Salzburg a third win against Austria Vienna (2-0).
In Denmark (Matchday 4), Nordsjaelland (1st) humiliated Randers on their own turf (5-0), with a goal from Burkina Faso’s Adamo Nagolo, while Tunisian Elias Achouri scored one of the two goals for FC Copenhagen (2nd) against Odense (2-1).
Moroccan Ouled Omar scores hat-trick in Georgia
In Estonia (matchday 23), Tammeka (9th) were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Nömme Kalju, despite a goal from Nigerian Ahmed Adebayo.Morocco’s Imra Ouled Omar scored a hat-trick in Georgia (matchday 21), as Dinamo Tbilisi (2nd) won 6-1 at Gagra.
In Kazakhstan (matchday 19), Ivorian Anderson Niangbo helped Aktobe (2nd) draw with Aksu (1-1).
In Lithuania (matchday 26), Zalgiris Vilnius crushed Hegelmann (4-0), with a goal from Nigerian Mathias Oyewusi.
Day 1 of the Luxembourg championship took place last weekend. Union Titus Pétange, thanks in particular to a goal from Senegalese Sambou Sarr, toppled reigning champions Swift Hespérange (2-0). UNA Strassen defeated Kaerjang (2-1), with a goal from Cameroonian Conrad Azong. Dudelange lost (2-3) to Fola Esch despite a goal from Malagasy Sylvio Ouassiero, while promoted Marisca Mersch fell to Progrès Neidercorn (3-4), despite a goal from Cameroonian Landry Mejong.
In Norway (matchday 18), Haugesund (11th) drew with Valerenga (1-1) thanks to Malian Sory Diarra.
Red Star Belgrade continued their perfect start to the season in Serbia (matchday 3), with another victory at Mladost (4-1).Nigerian Peter Olayinka and Ivorian Jean-Philippe Krasso each scored a goal.
Tunisians Amor Layouni and Ali Youssef helped Hacken (2nd) to a 2-0 win over Varberg on Matchday 19 of the Swedish league.In Slovenia (Matchday 3), Celje beat Rogaska (2-0) with a goal from Nigerian Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi.
Finally, in Ukraine (Matchday 3), Nigeria’s Samson Iyedi scored one of two goals for Chernomorets Odessa (5th) against Obolon Kiev (2-0).
