After representing their respective countries during the international break, Africa’s biggest football stars are back to making waves in Europe. The Continent of Champions brings you the highlights in this episode.
THE INAKI SHOW
Athletic Bilbao took on RCD Espanyol at the Sam Mames. They got off to a flying start as Nico Williams teed up Dani Vivian for the opener in the 6th minute with a sumptuous cross from a corner.
Inaki Williams got in on the act, too, in the 28th minute from Álex Berenguer’s pass. The midfielder picked out Williams beautifully in the 18-yard box. The winger controlled it expertly and applied an emphatic finish to double the lead.
The combination that led to the second goal produced the third one two minutes later. Nico Williams released the ball into the part of Berenguer after driving at the Espanyol defence purposefully, the latter laid the ball into the path of Williams Sr. and he buried the ball into the net for his second of the night. It was a clinical display from the Ghanaian forward.
Inaki Williams was substituted in the 73rd minute for young winger Nico Serrano.
GUIRASSY TO THE RESCUE
Borussia Dortmund played host to FC St. Pauli at the Signa Iduna Park, aiming to improve their wobbly start to the current Bundesliga season.
The visitors had a goal ruled out for offside in the 31st minute following a VAR review. Dortmund dominated proceedings for most of the match, and they took a deserved lead in the closing minutes of the first half through Algerian full-back Ramy Bensebaini. The full-back connected perfectly with Pascal Gross’ cross and flicked the ball into the net, a well-placed header to grab his first goal in the Black and Yellow colours.
The hosts pressed for a second goal, but the visitors defended resolutely. In the 78th minute, Eric Smith’s 30-yard thunderbolt gave the visitors an equaliser to set up a tense finale.
The hosts would have the last laugh as Serhou Guirassy rose to the occasion to restore the lead and secure the three points for the hosts in the 83rd minute. Guirassy glanced Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’ cross into the net, doing just enough to guide the ball into the net with his head: two goals and three points for the home side.
The Guinean striker has had an impressive start to life in Dortmund, although he’ll rue his missed chances in this fixture.
KUDUS GOES FROM HERO TO ZERO AS YVES BISSOUMA STARS
West Ham FC took on Tottenham Hotspur away from home in dire need of the three points. Both sides threatened early on, but things started on a promising note for the visitors as Ghanaian winger Mohammed Kudus opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Jarrod Bowen’s cutback was deflected into the path of Kudus, and the latter didn’t hesitate to smash the ball into the net as the Tottenham goalie looked on helplessly—a right-footed finish for his second league goal of the season.
The hosts pressed forward and grabbed an equaliser through Dejan Kulusevski in the 36th minute. Both sides went into the break on level terms.
The hosts really came alive in the second half, grabbing a well-deserved lead through Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma. The midfielder smashed the ball into the net beyond Alphonse Areola from Destiny Udogie’s well-timed pass.
It was his second goal of the season, and he has now managed to grab multiple goals in a single Premier League season for the first time in the English League. Way to go, Bissi!
An own goal by West Ham goalkeeper Areola extended the home team’s lead to 3:1, and Heung Min Son’s 60th-minute goal condemned the visitors to a 4:1 loss.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as Mo Kudus picked up a red card for hitting Micky Van de Ven and a slight shove on Pape Matar Sarr. He was initially awarded a yellow card, but it was upgraded to a red card after a VAR review.
It was a sad end to the game for the winger, who had put in an impressive performance and was unarguably the Hammers’ best player during the match. He’ll miss West Ham’s next games against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Everton.
VICTOR BONIFACE DELIGHT, MARMOUSH GRIEF
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen took on Eintracht Frankfurt at the Bay Arena, looking for their first win in three league matches.
Things got off to a bad start for the hosts as Victor Boniface failed to find the net from 12 yards in the 9th minute. Kevin Trapp gathered his tame penalty effort calmly.
The visitors nearly went ahead afterwards, but Omar Marmoush’s fierce effort from range rattled the upright. The visitors were awarded a penalty of their own six minutes later following a foul on Marmoush. He made no mistake from the spot, burying the penalty decisively to give the visitors the lead.
The Egyptian winger has had a terrific start to the current Bundesliga season. He continued his impressive form against the champions, sitting atop the Bundesliga goal-scoring and assists charts.
The hosts weren’t to be kept out for long. Robert Andrich leveled proceedings in the 25th minute, finishing a well-worked team move. Both sides went into the break with nothing to separate them.
It remained level till Victor Boniface found some inspiration in the 71st minute and made due amends for his earlier penalty miss. The Nigerian striker reacted quickly to nod the ball home after the Frankfurt defence failed to deal with Florian Wirtz’s cross properly. A striker’s goal! His goal helped complete the comeback and secure the three points for the home side.
The Nigerian striker was involved in a ghastly road accident after the match. Fortunately, he survived and has been receiving treatment.
VALLADOLID’S AFRICAN STARS GET THE JOB DONE
Real Valladolid returned to winning ways against Deportivo Alaves at the Mendizorroza, condemning the home side to a fourth consecutive league loss.
The match started on an entertaining note as Alaves got off to a flying start in the 6th minute through Toni Martinez, the striker capitalising on a defensive howler to give his side the lead. Valladolid equalised eleven minutes later through Senegalese forward Mamadou Sylla with a well-taken penalty.
The number 7 displayed composure to emphatically bury the ball into the net against his former club and open his account for the season.
The home side had a goal ruled out shortly after the restart. There was nothing to separate the two sides till Moroccan midfielder Selim Amallah buried another penalty into the net for the visitors to give them the lead in the 72nd minute, sending the ball down the middle.
The visitors extended their lead further in the 76th minute as goalscorer Sylla turned provider for Moroccan midfielder Anuar Tuhami for the latter’s first goal of the season. The forward unselfishly squared the ball into Anuar’s path, following a quick break.
Kike Garcia pulled one back for the hosts in the closing minutes of added time with an absolute peach of a goal that proved to be nothing more than a cosolation.
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE LIFTS MILAN
A much-changed AC Milan side took on FC Udinese at the San Siro, hoping to get back to winning ways after losing their last Serie A fixture against AFC Fiorentina.
Samuel Chukwueze was reintroduced into the Starting XI and proved to be Milan’s hero with his early goal. A well-worked team move ended up with Christian Pulisic in the box, and the American unselfishly teed the ball into the path of Chukwueze, who hit it first time into the net, leaving compatriot Maduka Okoye helpless in the opposing goal. His first league goal of the season!
The hosts were soon reduced to 10 men after Tijjani Reijnders was sent off in the 29th minute. Kingsley Ehizibue had a goal ruled out in the dying minutes of the first half for offside, much to the chagrin of the opposition fans.
Samuel Chukwueze was substituted late in the 88th minute for Fikayo Tomori, and his lone goal was the difference between both sides. Udinese had another goal ruled out in the dying minutes for offside, but Milan ultimately held on for the three points.
VICTOR OSIMHEN STUNNER
Victor Osimhen came off the bench to score a Puskas-worthy goal in Galatasaray’s league match against Antalyaspor, marking his return from injury with an otherworldly acrobatic effort.
Mauro Icardi’s brace had the visitors two nil up in the match. Osimhen was introduced in the 78th minute, coming on for Yunus Akgün.
The Nigerian striker had an immediate impact, finding the net within a minute of his introduction but the goal was ruled out for offside with the closest of margins.
Victor Osimhen was not to be denied, as he grabbed an absolute stunner 15 minutes after his introduction. The striker swiftly reacted to guide Hakim Ziyech’s deflected cross into the net with a stunning acrobatic effort. An imperfect work of art!
It was another addition to his ever-increasing catalogue of spectacular goals.
MR INEVITABLE STRIKES AGAIN
Mohammed Salah was the star of the show as Liverpool romped to a 2:1 win over Chelsea at Anfield.
The Egyptian winger opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a well-taken penalty, sending Robert Sanchez the wrong way after Curtis Jones was brought down in the box. As he stood over the penalty kick, the goal seemed inevitable, and indeed it was.
The Egyptian winger teed Cody Gakpo for a second goal in the 32nd minute, but the goal was subsequently ruled out as he had strayed offside in the build-up.
Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson pulled one back for the visitors from Moses Caicedo’s pass three minutes after the restart, perfectly timing his run behind the Liverpool defence and slotting it calmly into the net beyond Liverpool’s goalie.
Liverpool triumphed ultimately as Mo Salah teed up Curtis Jones to restore the home side’s lead. Salah showed superb vision when picking out Jones’ run and teasing a sumptuous ball into the box, with Jones applying the finishing touches.
Chelsea applied some pressure late on, but the Reds held on for the three points. Mo Salah’s heroics returned them to the top of the Premier League table. The winger has now scored 5 goals and 5 assists across eight league appearances this season.
He moved up to joint ninth with Jermain Defoe on the Premier League all-time goalscoring charts with 162 strikes and one behind Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler in eighth position.
Additionally, it was the 34th time he had scored and assisted in the same Premier League match.
