This episode of Continent of Champions features Ademola Lookman, Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbuemo, and more showing off African excellence. Read on in our weekly football recap.
MBEUMO AND WISSA STAR IN THRILLER
Yoane Wissa marked his full return to the starting lineup with a brace at the Gtech Community Stadium as Brentford took on Ipswich Town.
The visitors struck first through Sammie Szmodics in the 28th minute and doubled their lead three minutes later through George Hirst.
Two goals down after the half-hour mark, Wissa sparked the home side’s comeback, halving the deficit in the 44th minute. Vitaly Janelt laid the ball into Wissa’s path for a simple finish after some great work by Keane Lewis-Potter.
The Congolese forward was again involved as the Bees drew level in the additional minutes of the first half, timing his run to perfection to connect with Damsgaard’s pass and lash it into the net. A frantic end to an entertaining half!
Brentford went ahead after the restart as Bryan Mbeumo buried a penalty emphatically into the back of the net after Lewis-Potter was brought down in the box, maintaining his perfect record from the spot for Brentford.
The three points seemed destined for Brentford, but a late twist nearly altered the course of the match as substitute Liam Delap equalised for Ipswich in the 86th minute.
Brentford had the last laugh as Mbeumo added a second goal in the game’s closing minutes to seal the win and the three points. Ultimately, his cross-cum shot evaded everyone in the box and ended in the back of the net.
The Cameroonian forward has been in terrific form this season, bagging 8 goals across nine PL matches. He became the first Brentford player to record 50 goal involvements in England’s top flight.
LOOKMAN MAGIC LIFTS ATALANTA TO RESOUNDING WIN
Ademola Lookman was the star of the show as Atalanta decimated Hellas Verona at the Gewiss Stadium.
Atalanta set the pace for their rout with an early opener, Marten de Roon burying Lookman’s pass clinically into the net in the 6th minute. Ademola Lookman was involved once again as Marco Retegui doubled the lead three minutes later, his blocked shot falling kindly to the latter on the edge of the box.
Lookman pulled the strings again, teeing up Charles De Ketelaere to extend their lead in the 14th minute. The Ballon d’Or nominee grabbed a goal of his own in the 29th minute, putting his nimble footwork on full display and evading multiple challenges before burying the ball into the net.
De Ketelaere returned the favour and assisted the Nigerian midfielder for his second goal in the 34th minute. He flicked Ederson Moraes’ layoff into Lookman’s path, and the Nigerian applied the finishing touch.
Amin Sarr grabbed a stunning consolation goal for the visitors in the closing minutes of the first half. Lookman should have completed his hattrick after the restart but he was painfully denied by the woodwork.
The first-half rout allowed Giasperini to rest some players, and Ademola Lookman was substituted in the 56th minute, a stellar showing by the Nigerian. Retegui grabbed Atalanta’s sixth goal of the match in the 58th minute, the final nail in the coffin for the visitors.
IWOBI STRIKES IN DRAW
Alex Iwobi helped Fulham FC to a draw against Everton FC at Goodison Park. The Nigerian midfielder was keen to impress against his former employers, and he did so perfectly. Both sides threatened in the first half, but the game remained goalless, and Everton had a goal ruled out for offside. Idrissa Gueye’s shot cannoned off the crossbar, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin buried the rebound, albeit from an offside position. The goal was correctly ruled out.
Fulham were in desperate need of a goal, and Iwobi put his finishing boots on. The Nigerian benefited from a sensational solo run by Emile Smith Rowe; the latter released a pass to Iwobi afterwards. The Nigerian charged into the box and buried his shot into Jordan Pickford’s goal. A goal was made and finished in Hale End.
Fulham grew more confident after grabbing the opener, but the Evertonian defence stood resolutely against their barrage of attacks. Iwobi was substituted for Jorge Cuenca in the 92nd minute as the visitors sought to protect their lead.
Unfortunately, the hosts grabbed an equaliser at the death through 81st-minute substitute Beto. The Guinea Bissau striker was persistent, and his persistence paid off eventually. Ilman Ndiaye’s deep cross was cut back across the face of the goal by Ashley Young, and Beto, unmarked in the box, rose highest to turn it home.
It was a well-timed moment to score his first PL goal of the season, helping the home side salvage a draw and extend their four-game unbeaten run.
SYLLA’S GOAL NOT ENOUGH
Looking to build on their win against Alaves in their last La Liga match, Real Valladolid took on Villarreal CF at the Estadio José Zorrilla.
The visitors drew first blood in the match, courtesy of Thierno Barry’s headed goal in the 26th minute and maintained their lead into the break. Nicolas Pepe should have capitalized on a misplaced pass but Karl Hein kept out his shot in the first half.
As it seemed it was going to end in a loss for the home side, Mamadou Sylla was brought down in the box, and they were awarded a penalty. Sylla dispatched it clinically, sending the goalie the wrong way. It’s the Senegalese forward’s second penalty goal in as many games.
His 60th-minute goal was nothing more than a consolation, as it wasn’t enough to help the home side secure a point. Villarreal were relentless and seemed more likely to grab the winner but they were denied by the upright on two different occasions. Their relentless onslaught pair off eventually as Ayoze Perez bundled home the winner in the 84th minute, turning Sylla’s efforts into naught as Valladolid slumped to a 7th defeat in La Liga this season.
TOURE RUNS THE SHOW IN STUTTGART WIN
An inclusion in the starting XI in response to his midweek Champions League heroics against Juventus, El Bilal Toure was keen to impress in VFB Stuttgart’s Bundesliga fixture against Holstein Kiel at the MHPArena.
Toure showed his intent early on, setting Denis Undav up for the opener in the 19th minute. A quick counterattack, a teasing pass into Undav’s path and the Turkish striker applied an artistic finish.
Provider turned goalscorer in the 61st minute as Toure latched onto Jeff Chabot’s pass to double the lead for his side. Receiving a pass about 30 yards from goal, he took the ball in his strides and unleashed a thunderbolt from range. The curling effort was too hot for the opposition goalie to handle!
He was substituted thereafter, but the Malian forward’s job was done at that point. Armin Gigovic grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors in the 84th minute, but the three points remained in Stuttgart.
ABOUKHLAL LEADS TOULOUSE TO RESOUNDING WIN
Moroccan international Zakaria Aboukhlal orchestrated the proceedings as Toulouse claimed a 3-0 victory over Montpellier at the Stade de la Mosson. Both sides were in dire need of three points after a poor start to the season, with Montpellier’s newly appointed head coach seeking a statement win.
Aboukhlal opened the scoring in the 5th minute, turning Joshua King’s pass across the face of the goal into the net. After a quick VAR check for offside, the goal was awarded. The Moroccan doubled the lead three minutes later, timing his run behind the defence to perfection and latching onto D. Sidibe’s Alexander-Arnold-esque pass, which he clinically dispatched into the net through the legs of the keeper.
Provider turned goalscorer as Aboukhlal teed up Josh King to increase their lead in the 27th minute. Evading the challenge of an opposition player skillfully, he unselfishly squared the ball into Josh King’s path, and the latter curled it into the net.
An early red card to Montpellier’s captain, Teji Savanier, ruled out any chances of a comeback for the hosts. Zakaria Aboukhlal was substituted for Shavy Babicka in the 84th minute with the three points all but secured.
It was a vital win for the visitors as they jumped up to 14th in the league.
AFRICAN EXCELLENCE
IIt was an all-African showcase for Angers SCO as they claimed a convincing 4-2 win over Saint-Étienne at the Stade Raymond Kopa. Angers were in search of their first victory of the 2024/2025 Ligue 1 season, being the only team without a win before the match.
They got off to a dream start when Himad Abdelli turned in Jim Allevinah’s cross, showcasing sublime footwork to create space and finish. It marked the Algerian’s third goal in Ligue 1 this season and his first from open play.
The visitors soon had a goal ruled out after a VAR review, but the delay was not denial, as Zuriko Davitashvili buried a 16th-minute equalizer. Although his first penalty was saved, it was retaken due to encroachment, and the striker made no mistake on the second attempt, dispatching it beyond a helpless Yahia Fofana.
The hosts restored their lead through Ivorian midfielder Jean-Eudes Aholou in the 39th minute, capitalizing quickly after Les Verts failed to clear their lines. Angers took a well-deserved lead into the break.
The visitors weren’t going to give up without a fight and drew level once again in the 57th minute through Zuriko Davitashvili’s deflected shot. However, Angers were more desperate for the win, and their persistence paid off when Ibrahima Niane converted a penalty in the 69th minute after Farid El Melali was brought down in the box. It was the Senegalese forward’s second goal in as many games.
Bamba Dieng put the game beyond doubt in stoppage time, capitalizing on another defensive error by Saint-Étienne. The Senegalese substitute capped his six-minute cameo with a goal after coming on for Abdelli.
The win allowed Angers to move out of the relegation zone.
OSIMHEN CAN’T JUST STOP SCORING
Victor Osimhen helped Galatasaray to a crucial victory against Besiktas JK in the Istanbul Derby at the RAMS Park on Monday night.
Both sides showed their attacking intent early on, but Colombian centre-back Davinson Sanchez opened the scoring for the hosts in the 13th minute from Gabriel Sara’s free-kick cross. It was a closely contested contest, and the hosts sustained their lead into the break.
Another set piece turned out to be Besiktas’ undoing once again as Victor Osimhen doubled Galatasaray’s lead in the 67th minute from Sara’s cross. The Nigerian striker reacted quickly, rose highest and connected perfectly with the cross to grab his goal, continuing his impressive start to life in Turkey.
He has now found the back of the net in three consecutive matches.
The Nigerian striker was substituted for Dries Mertens in the 82nd minute. Besiktas grabbed an equaliser through substitute Ernest Muci in the closing minutes of the game. The win allowed the home side to consolidate their spot at the top of the table.
