The magic never ceases when African footballers get on the pitch. Diakhaby, Dele-Bashiru, and Gouiri lead the line of top on this episode of our Weekly Football Recap.
DIAKHABY MARKS RETURN TO VALENCIA’S XI IN HEROIC FASHION
Fresh off their devastating Copa Del Rey loss to FC Barcelona, relegation-threatened Valencia CF took on CD Leganes at the Mestalla.
They got off to a perfect start as centre-back Cristhian Mosquera gave them the lead on the stroke of the half-hour mark. In his first start in the league match this season, Mouctar Diakhaby turned out to be Valencia’s hero as the Guinean defender was in hand to double their lead in the 41st minute. Diego López flicked the ball from a rebound shot into Diakhaby’s path, and the defender thundered it into the net on the half-volley. Superb reaction and a beautiful finish!
It was an emotional moment for the defender as he marked his return to Valencia’s starting XI in the league following a 330-day spell on the sidelines. The Mestalla crowd shared in his happiness as they chanted his name in ecstasy. The Guinean centre-back was substituted for Yarek Gasiorowski in the 58th minute as signs of fatigue began to set in. Both sides made a couple of second-half substitutions, and despite a flurry of second-half chances for Leganes, Valencia held on resolutely for the three points.
DELE-BASHIRU NETS IN LAZIO ROUT
SS Lazio played host to Serie A strugglers AC Monza at the Stadio Olimpico, aiming to get back to winning ways at home. Adam Marušić opened the scoring for the visitors in the 31st minute with a simple header. An injury to Boulaye Dia meant Pedro was introduced for the Senegalese forward in the 35th minute as Lazio took the lead into the break.
The hosts came out firing on all cylinders after the break as they claimed a resounding victory over the visitors. They took a three-nil lead as Pedro and Valentín Castellanos netted two goals within the space of six minutes in the 57th and 63rd minutes, respectively.
On-loan Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru came on as a substitute for Gustav Isaksen in the 65th minute as the hosts ran away with the match. Lazio grabbed a fourth goal through Pedro in the 77th minute, and the visitors grabbed a consolation in the 86th minute through a Stefano Sensi penalty.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru restored their four-goal lead two minutes later. Receiving a pass from Nicolo Rovella on the edge of the area, he charged at the opposition defence, shifted the ball onto his left foot and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the back of the net. The midfielder has now netted three goals across 15 league appearances for Lazio.
GOUIRI PULLS THE STRINGS FOR MARSEILLE
Olympique Marseille visited Angers SCO at the Stade Raymond Kopa, aiming to extend their impressive form since the turn of the new year.
The first half was keenly contested between both sides, and Marseille’s dominance grew into the game. However, neither side managed to find the breakthrough before the halftime whistle.
The game came alive in the second half as both sides made a couple of substitutions to swing the match in their favour. The visitors drew first blood through Adrien Rabiot in the 69th minute; the French midfielder connected well with Amine Gouiri’s corner to give them the lead. They doubled their lead five minutes later as Neal Maupay capped off a quick counterattack with a fine finish. Following a quick break, Gouiri and Maupay charged at the Angers defence. After releasing the ball into Gouiri’s path, Maupay charged into the box, and Gouiri unselfishly squared the ball into the Frenchman’s path, who applied a clinical finish to the pass.
The Algerian striker has now recorded three assists across two appearances for Marseille since he joined them from Stade Rennais in the January transfer window. Having played his part in their impending victory, Gouiri was substituted in the 75th minute for Amar Dedic. Despite a flurry of late substitutions, Angers were unable to swing the match in their favour as Marseille held on for the victory and extended their impressive away record in Ligue 1 this season.
CHUBA AKPOM NETS DEBUT GOAL IN DISAPPOINTING LOSS
LOSC Lille played host to Le Havre AC in their Ligue 1 fixture at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, following a frustrating elimination on penalties at the hands of second-tier Dunkerque in their Coupe de France fixture. The visitors stunned the Pierre-Mauroy as they took the lead in the 38th minute as Egyptian striker Ahmed Hassan netted his first goal since joining Le Havre from Rio Ave FC in the January transfer window. The towering Egyptian turned Issa Soumaré’s flicked header into the back of the net with a composed finish for his maiden Ligue 1 goal.
Lille made a trio of substitutions at the start of the second half, and on-loan Nigerian striker Chuba Akpom came on for his debut. Despite the hosts’ substitutions, the visitors doubled their lead through Soumare in the 56th minute. Soumaré was on hand to apply a much-needed finish following a moment of chaos in Lille’s 18-yard box as they failed to deal with Le Havre’s corner cross properly. The goal was the Senegalese midfielder’s maiden goal in Ligue 1, just like Hassan’s.
The hosts were unable to catch a break as Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s goal was ruled out in the 81st minute following a VAR check. Akpom netted a consolation goal in the 97th minute for the hosts. The goal was too late to spark a comeback. Akpom skillfully intercepted a horrendous back pass by the opposition defender. Cutting in onto his right foot, he unleashed a shot into the half-empty net. His maiden Ligue 1 goal in his maiden appearance in the French league. He has become the fourth Nigerian footballer to score on his Ligue 1 debut. A game of firsts for the goalscorers!
Lille slumped to another defeat as Le Havre piled on their misery. This was their first home loss in eight league games, and despite their remarkable victory, Le Havre remains in the relegation zone.
NAGIDA NETS LATE WINNER FOR RENNES
Looking to build on their victory against Strasbourg in their previous Ligue 1 fixture, Stade Rennais visited Saint Etienne at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium.
They established their victory intent early on as Arnaud Kalimuendo opened the scoring for the visitors at the quarter of the hour mark. Rennes were dominant in the first half of the game, but they did not have a finishing touch. The French striker’s goal was the difference between both sides at the break.
Both sides made a couple of seconds half substitutions as the visitors sought to see out the win and the hosts were looking to salvage something from the match.
The hosts’ resilience paid off as 84th-minute substitute Nagida Mahamadou Nagida netted a goal as soon as he was introduced into the fray. The young defender benefited from a goal-bound deflected shot that spiralled into his path, and he guided it into the net from close range within 37 seconds of his introduction. The goal was the 19-year-old Cameroonian fullback’s second league goal this season. Rennes delight, Etienne despair!
